Summer Message from Superintendent Doug Sheppard
As another remarkable school year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible accomplishments, growth, and community spirit that have defined our journey together.
Across the school district, students have led with courage and curiosity—whether through environmental stewardship and charitable initiatives, or innovative learning projects, their voices are shaping not only their schools, but the future of our communities. It’s a compelling reminder of the powerful impact of many of the key themes within our Vision for 2030: students influence through choice and voice, curiosities and passions are honoured, students tackle real world challenges; creative and critical thinking drive success; and high expectations exist for every learner.
Staff have once again gone above and beyond – forging meaningful connections with students, supporting their well-being, and embracing new ways to inspire learning. I am deeply grateful for their professionalism, care and commitment. To those retiring and moving on: thank you for the legacy of excellence you leave behind. Your impact will be felt for years to come.
To our Trustees, thank you for your leadership and ongoing dedication to our students, staff, and community. It is an honour to work with you.
To our 2025 graduates: Congratulations! You’ve reached a major milestone, and we couldn’t be prouder. Whether you’re heading to post-secondary studies, entering the workforce, or exploring new paths, I hope you carry forward the values of compassion, responsibility, integrity, creativity, diversity and resilience that define our Delta community.
To our families and caregivers: thank you for being our partners in education. Your support, encouragement, and advocacy are essential to student success.
And to all our students: Your energy, empathy, and imagination continue to inspire us every day. I hope this summer brings you time to rest, recharge, and explore your passions.
Wishing everyone a safe, joyful, and restful summer. We look forward to welcoming you back in September.
Warm regards,
Doug Sheppard
Superintendent, Delta School District
End of School Year Message by Delta Board of Education Chair Joe Muego
It’s hard to believe another school year is coming to an end. And what a year it has been – full of learning, growth, resilience and a deepening sense of connection and belonging. As Board Chair, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible work happening across our schools, and I am filled with pride and gratitude at what students and staff have accomplished over the past 12 months.
We began the school year on a regal note with two members of the district – Board Vice Chair Val Windsor and Child and Youth Care Worker Curtis Miller – being awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. We were thrilled to see their dedication and service to our community recognized.
Towards the end of September, the Indigenous Education Department led the district’s first Annual Walk for Truth and Reconciliation. Students from schools in Ladner joined together on this walk to honour and show respect for the children who never returned home and for the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. The walk concluded with a powerful ceremony at the Delta Manor Education Centre that was livestreamed to all schools in the district. This year’s walk will take place on Monday, September 29 in North Delta. The walk is an important way we can honour the National Day for Truth and Recognition and Orange Shirt Day and increase our understanding of the history of Indigenous Peoples.
Delta’s International Student Program received national recognition this year, winning a StudyTravel ST Secondary School Award for excellence. This award reflects the welcoming, inclusive environment the team has built for students from around the world. These students enrich our classrooms and communities with diverse perspectives and experiences. We are proud to be a district that values and encourages global citizenship. We need more homestay families to house the international students wishing to study in Delta, so if you’re interested in bringing an international student into your home, please get in touch!
Throughout the year, I have been amazed by students’ creativity, curiosity and commitment to making a difference.
A Delta Secondary student earned two prestigious awards at the 2024 Youth Innovation Showcase for creating an app to help treat misophonia, a sound sensitivity disorder. Seaquam Secondary students won 7 out of a possible 18 awards in the high school category at the 2025 Canadian Young Reporters for the Environment Competition. Almost 100 students took part in the Delta Minds of Discovery Science Fair at the Scottsdale Centre. And more recently, 15 out of the 125 students at the South Fraser Regional Science Fair represented Delta to showcase projects that tackled real-world challenges with insight and innovation. And as you heard earlier, Delta students also represented Team South Fraser at the 63rd Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Innovation isn’t limited to students—our Facilities and Maintenance Team is currently exploring the use of artificial intelligence to conserve water across the district. It’s inspiring to see our staff leading by example and investigating ways to promote environmental stewardship.
Acts of compassion and community spirit were also abundant during the year. Students at Delview and Delta Secondary Schools continued to give back to their communities with their annual food drives. Delview’s Thanks 4 Giving event continues to be one of the largest single night food drives in British Columbia, and this year, students collected more than 18 thousand items! Delta Secondary’s food drive was also a great success – thanks to students’ efforts, 30 families received hampers filled with food, clothing and gift cards just in time for the holidays.
Our staff continue to go above and beyond to support our students – not just academically – but emotionally and socially. At Richardson Elementary, staff participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for mental health. It was a chilly moment, but also a meaningful one, showing students that it’s ok to talk about mental health and to support one another.
At Brooke Elementary, staff, students and parents were successful in applying for a grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. They were awarded $35,000! They are now busy planning how to use this money to transform the school’s library and foster a love of reading among students. We know this grant will have a powerful impact, as literacy unlocks opportunities for every learner.
This year, we have also seen the power of the arts in action. Hawthorne Elementary students brought Shakespeare’s Macbeth to life as part of the Bard Youth Festival, demonstrating their courage and talent in performing on stage, and highlighting the importance of creativity in education. And as always, our secondary schools put on some amazing productions including The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Hadestown, Mamma Mia, Almost Maine and Shrek.
We are so blessed to have some amazing community partners that help enrich the lives of Delta students – whether it’s giving students insight into a career as a firefighter or police officer during the annual Delta Fire Youth Academy or Delta Student Police Academy, helping them gain soccer skills through the Whitecaps elementary soccer program, instilling a joy of reading through author visits or going on field trips such as the Battle of the Badge which is held on Pink Shirt Day each year and encourages students to stand up against bullying. These experiences help students grow as leaders, teammates and citizens.
More than 200 students participated in the 3rd Annual Amazing Race. This event, organized by the City of Delta, brought students together from across the district for a day of teamwork, laughter and leadership. These initiatives are a wonderful reminder that learning happens everywhere – not just in classrooms, but in parks, on trails and in the connections we build with one another.
We also celebrated some new and improved outdoor spaces. Neilson Grove Elementary unveiled a new playground thanks to the fundraising efforts of its PAC. And Heath Elementary added a new accessible playground thanks to the province’s Playground Equipment Program.
We’ve also seen great progress made on tracks around the district, due to support from the City of Delta and the Province. We officially opened the upgraded track and field at Delta Secondary a couple of weeks ago. We broke ground on the new track at Seaquam Secondary and we’re looking forward to the official opening of a new synthetic turf field at Mackie Park in the fall. All these great facilities are more than just places to run or play – they are spaces that will energize our students, support their physical and mental wellness, and bring people together for years to come.
This year, we reaffirmed our commitment to equity, inclusion and reconciliation. In May, we raised the Pride flag to kick off Pride Week in our schools and demonstrate our heartfelt support for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and staff. Pride Week was a celebration of love, identity, and belonging – and a reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe, seen and valued in our schools.
Recently, Indigenous students from Delta and Coquitlam came together for a deeply meaningful canoe journey along the Fraser River in a powerful celebration of their graduation. This experience was more than a trip; it was a spiritual and cultural connection to land, tradition, community and the strength of Indigenous youth. We are sincerely grateful to our Indigenous Education team and our partners at the Coquitlam School District for making this memorable experience possible.
Although the issues of funding and budgets loom large for all school district’s every year, I’m pleased to say that Delta’s ongoing prudent approach to budgetary planning has stood us in good stead. The district continues to prioritize high quality programs and services for students, despite increasing financial pressures.
As we look to the future, we remain focused on our strategic priorities, student achievement and success, equity and inclusion, Indigenous education, and student and staff well-being. The world continues to change at a rapid pace and students need the skills, confidence and compassion to thrive in that world. I’m pleased to be able to say that our staff are well positioned to help them. None of this would be possible without the incredible people who make up our Delta School District family.
As we close this school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our students, families, staff, and education and community partners.
To students: thank you for your energy, your ideas and your courage.
To teachers, administrators and support staff: thank you for your unwavering dedication, your creativity and your care.
To families: thank you for your trust, your partnership and your advocacy.
To my fellow trustees: thank you for your leadership, your collaboration and your commitment to public education.
And to our education and community partners: thank you for supporting us and sharing our vision for education.
I’d like to leave you with a message of hope. In every classroom, hallway and playground, the future is taking shape – I see a future built on kindness, curiosity and courage. A future where every student feels seen, heard, supported and empowered. A future where all learners belong and everyone soars.
Thank you, and have a wonderful summer.
Joe Muego,
Chair, Delta Board of Education
