Principal’s Message
Dear THSS Families,
As we step into December, I’m reminded once again of the power of connection and community at Thomas Haney. Nothing showcased this more clearly than our annual student-led THSS Craft Fair & Food Truck Festival this past weekend.
This year’s event was extraordinary—150 vendors, thousands of guests, and 90 student volunteers running every aspect of the fair, including 70 students managing the floor, 10 in our Teaching Kitchen, and 10 graduates returning to help. The feedback from vendors and visitors was outstanding. Over and over we heard comments about our students’ kindness, professionalism, and pride in representing their school.
This event is what makes THSS special. It’s students stepping forward with leadership and ownership. It’s staff mentoring, guiding, and cheering them on. And it’s our families showing up to support, connect, and help build the culture that makes our school such a vibrant place to learn.
Another important note for families: Learning Update #1 will be available for viewing on December 11. This update marks that we are already more than one-third of the way through the year. It offers an important snapshot of your child’s progress—celebrations, growth, and goals moving forward. Thank you in advance for taking the time to review it with your child.
Thank you for being such an important part of the THSS community. We continue to see every day that good things happen here—and they happen because of the relationships, the care, and the connections we build together.
Warm regards,
Darren Rowell
Principal, Thomas Haney Secondary School
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Remembrance Day Presentation
Our school-wide ceremony was held in TA. The video presentation—thoughtfully created by students and staff—was a powerful reflection on remembrance and service – VIDEO LINK
Grade 9 – Take Our Kids to Work Day
Our Grade 9s spent the day across the Lower Mainland exploring a huge range of workplaces—from CBC Radio, BC Hydro, and the RCMP Forensics Unit to local bakeries, schools, car dealerships, early learning centres, engineering firms, and community organizations.
This experience helped students see real-world learning in action, make connections to future careers, and reflect on what meaningful work looks like in our community.
Post-Secondary Information Day
Students from Grades 10–12 met with representatives from universities, colleges, trades, and the Canadian Armed Forces. Institutions included:
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SFU, UVic, Capilano, UFV, TWU, VIU, UNBC,BCIT, KPU, VCC, Douglas, Corpus Christi / St. Mark’s
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Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Canadian Armed Forces – RMC
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Events like PSI Day help students make informed choices about their post-secondary pathways and set clear goals for their future.
Oyster Tasting – Take a Bite of BC
Our Culinary students had a hands-on learning opportunity through the Take a Bite of BC program. Students sampled different varieties of BC oysters while learning about sustainable aquaculture, shellfish profiles, and culinary preparation methods. This memorable experience supports our Culinary Arts students in developing a deeper appreciation for local food systems.
ThunderTech Robotics – Community Partnership
ThunderTech visited Pitt Meadows Plumbing to demonstrate their FIRST Robotics Competition robot and share their progress on this year’s engineering challenges. In an exciting moment for the team, Pitt Meadows Plumbing presented a $3,000 sponsorship cheque, supporting robotics education and helping students continue to innovate, design, and compete at a high level.
Connections – Criminal Law in Action
Connections students met with criminal defence lawyer Kyla Lee, who walked them through real case studies involving rights, policing, and responsible decision-making behind the wheel. Students then visited the Provincial Court—moving between courtrooms to observe live trials and see legal processes unfold in real time.
Fishing Club – Exploring Local Waters
Our THSS Fishing Club has been off to a fantastic start this fall, with two successful outings that brought together students of all experience levels. The group spent time at Kanaka Creek, learning casting techniques and reading local water conditions, followed by a second trip to Lafarge Lake, where students practiced catch-and-release skills and gained hands-on experience with urban lake fishing. These sessions offered a great mix of outdoor learning, patience, teamwork, and appreciation for our local ecosystems. The club continues to grow in both interest and enthusiasm—well done to all who have participated so far!
“A Pop with a Cop”
RCMP members hosted an informal mentoring and Q&A session in the THSS Library. Students considering careers in policing or criminology were able to hear firsthand about training, career pathways, and community policing while enjoying a relaxed Y-block meeting.
Connections 11 x Outdoor Education at Camp Capilano
Last week, our Connections 11 and Outdoor Education students spent an unforgettable night at Camp Capilano — hiking the trails, gathering around the fire, and soaking in the beauty of the North Shore mountains. A perfect blend of adventure, connection, and fall outdoor learning. Thanks to Mr. Williams and Mr. Connolly for providing this valuable learning experience.
Fall Sports Updates
- Girls Volleyball – The Girls Volleyball teams (Grade 8, Junior & Senior) gathered last week for a celebration of a successful season. The team had a meal and then coaches spoke to the team’s growth and accomplishments and presented a few player awards. Thanks to the players for representing THSS so well and to the coaches for their mentoring and guidance of our student-athletes.
- Junior Boys Soccer – Closed out the league with a 2nd place finish, demonstrating impressive consistency and teamwork.
- Senior Boys Soccer – Competed at the Fraser North Championships, representing THSS with strong play and determination.
- Wrestling – Our newly formed Wrestling team continues to gain momentum. Sixteen dedicated student-athletes have been training intensely and competed in their first meet of the season on November 27 at MRSS—a great milestone for this growing program.
- Senior Boys Basketball – This weekend the Senior Boys Basketball team captured the Maple Ridge City Tournament Championship in truly thrilling fashion. The Thunder opened with a strong win over Maple Ridge Christian, followed by a hard-fought semifinal victory against MRSS. The final matchup against Westview was one for the books—down early in the second half, the team battled back and sealed the championship with a buzzer-beater to claim the first city title in program history. Go Thunder!
- Aquatics – Huge congratulations to Preston for an outstanding BC Swimming Championship provincial performance:
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3rd in BC – 50m Freestyle
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4th in BC – 100m Freestyle
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2nd in BC – 100m Butterfly (missing gold by just 0.01 seconds)
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His results reflect exceptional commitment and talent.
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Looking Ahead: Key December Events
- Monday, December 1st-Friday, December 5th – Grad Photos at Darby
- Tuesday, December 9th – Winter Concert (Band & Choir)
- Thursday, December 11th – Learning Update #1 LIVE on MyEd Portal
- Wednesday, December 17th – TA 9, 29, 31 & 32 Winter Wander Field Trip
- Friday, December 19th – THSS Annual Hoe Down (ALL School Afternoon Activity)
- Friday, December 19th – LAST DAY of School before Winter Break
- Monday, January 5th – School OPENS after Winter Break
Key Contacts
The following list of Counsellors and Administrators and their grades are listed below:
- Administration
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- Mr. Rowell (Principal – Grade 12s)
- Ms. Kania (Vice Principal – Gr. 8 & 10s)
- Mr. Kater (Vice Principal – Gr. 9 & 11s)
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- Counsellors
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- Mr. Grill (Counsellor – Gr. 9, 11 & 12s M-Z)
- Ms. McPhedran (Counsellor – Gr. 8, 10 & 12s A-L)
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Please do not hesitate to email Darren_Rowell@sd42.ca if you need further information or have any questions.
Thank you for being part of the Thomas Haney community!
Sincerely,
Darren Rowell
Principal, Thomas Haney Secondary School