Pacers Connect

This weekend marked the 22^nd Annual Pacer Basketball Alumni Tournament, the longest (known) continuous alumni tournament in BC High School Basketball. More than 120 athletes participated in this year’s event, which drew alumni from as far away as Fort St. John, B.C., Missassauga, Ont., and Denver, Colorado.

The tournament is the brainchild of DSS teacher and coach, Jim Lawrence who has organized the event for each of its 22 years. This year is Jim’s 35th year in teaching (all at DSS) and in June, he plans to retire. For many of the basketball alumni, this was their chance to say thanks for all that Jim has done not only as a teacher and a coach, but as a man whose efforts have built a strong sense of community among this particular group of alumni.

Jim Lawrence - Gold Medal Pacer

Few are more appreciative than the Charles Family, whose late brother Anesto was an outstanding basketball player at DSS and a much loved member of the Pacer basketball fraternity. The Pacer Alumni Tournament and associated events have raised thousands of dollars for both the Anesto Charles Memorial Scholarship and the Anesto Charles Foundation, which provides young people the opportunity to attend summer sports camps when their family’s financial circumstances may not have allowed for it. Jim has been instrumental in spearheading these efforts and sits on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Marlene Charles has never missed an Alumni Tournament and credits Jim for creating a great legacy in the community. “Jim is deeply committed to DSS and the Ladner community. Look at all the alumni who have become coaches and teachers themselves. Credit Jim, for encouraging and supporting them."

The weekend included the opportunity on Saturday afternoon for photographs with the 2010 Olympic Medals. Teck Resources, makers of the medals for the Vancouver Games, who through their Olympic Legacy Program provided alumni and their families a chance to get up close to these symbols of athletic excellence with proceeds from donations going towards the tournament scholarship fund.

Looking back, I’m incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Pacer basketball family. Over the years, our annual get togethers have evolved to include our children and our extended families and we’ve grown through our connections with each other. I’ve also greatly benefitted from my 27 year association with Jim Lawrence - my teacher, my colleague and my friend. Jim embodies passion, loyalty, and commitment to the Pacer Community like few others. We’ll be sad to see him retire, but he’s created an impressive legacy.

Pacer Oldtimers

Global Spirit

The student government at Delta Secondary has made impressive strides in shifting the purpose of "spirit activities" to include a focus on giving back, paying it forward, or simply helping others. During ChristmAssist, the student government teamed with Deltassist to adopt local families that were in need of support during the holidays. The recent World Spirit Week at Delta Secondary is another wonderful example of how DSS students have emerged as globally-minded citizens who are empowered and enthusiastic about their potential to make a difference in the lives of others.

For several years now, DSS teacher, Chris Dobrovolny has lead a club called the IFA, or the International Friendship Association at Delta Secondary. In this time, the IFA has been involved in several humanitarian projects in Central and South America, most recently in the Miraflor Reserve near the northern border of Nicaragua.  The IFA raises funds through various projects including coffee sales and collects donations to support worthwhile projects for the small communities in this area.


The list of projects is impressive. The DSS IFA has provided:

• numerous scholarships and educational opportunities for street youth in the town of Bluefields
• learning resources, computers, and scholarships for students in the remote areas of Miraflor, allowing them to study through a solar powered computer program 
• physical labour such as painting and landscaping 
• funding for a fresh water well, rain water collection system, and a new septic tank for the Tabitha Home Orphanage

Each spring, Dobrovolny and one or two other DSS teachers pay their own way to lead a small group of students to Nicaragua. It's a life changing experience for the students who learn first hand not only about the challenges of life in the Third World but also about the beauty, the power, and the fragility of the global community.

This year the IFA will build a preschool near the tiny village of Cebollal in the Miraflor Reserve. Working with the local agricultural co-op, the IFA and the DSS community have raised enough money to completely fund the project! Next month, Dobrovolny and teachers, Andrew Boldt, and Sheila Guichon will lead a DSS team of 6 students to Cebollal to assist with the construction. It will be challenging and physical, but rewarding work!

This year, the student government at DSS chose to get involved, engaging the participation of all DSS students through "Jar Wars," a penny drive challenge that ran during World Spirit Week. The cause and the challenge inspired our school community and while the final tally is yet to be determined (imagine counting and rolling 200,000 pennies!!!), it is estimated that "Jar Wars" will raise more than $2500 for the IFA project in Nicaragua.

As is often the case in Ladner, our community also did their part. Add in private donations from individuals and companies like Choices Market, and final tally will top more than $7000 for the project.











The Open Mic concert at week's end featured some of the school's most gifted performers, and raised an additional $400 through donations at the door. It's yet another example of how our community is using its considerable talents to help others. Check out Cameron Phillips' video for a few highlights.

Transitioning with Pride and Purpose

Delta South MLA, Vicki Huntington interviews Rebecca Wilkens

Last Thursday, members of the 2011 graduating class participated in formal interviews to complete their Grad Transitions requirements.  A host of prominent community members volunteered their time to make this event possible. The interviews challenged the students to reflect on their accomplishments, and articulate their plans for the future. The feedback from both the students and the volunteer interviewers has been extremely positive! Our special guests were blown away by the quality of our students and the breadth and depth of their experiences and contributions to community. I've now heard of two students who will be offered jobs as a direct result of their interviews! This was a true community effort that could not have occurred without the vision and passion of Grad Transitions Coordinator, Mrs. Shoemaker, Career Advisor, Mrs. Livingston, and Counsellor, Mrs. Dueck, and the support of many parents and teachers.

Many thanks to our interview panel:

George Harvie, CAO Corporation of Delta

Vicki Huntington, MLA

Steve Fera, Vancouver Giants

Maryann Cardwell, Alternate Programs Coordinator, Delta School District

Guillermo Bustos, Ladner Rotary

Constable Sean Doolan, Delta Police

Joan Nielsen, Ladner Legion

Gail Erickson, Ladner Legion

Ron Erickson, Ladner Legion
Gerry Grexton, Ladner Legion

Graham Parker, Kiwanis

Bob Bourgeois, Retired DSS Counselor

Ray Holme, Retired DSS Principal

Lois Jackson,  Mayor Corporation of Delta

Don Tuck, Retired DSS Teacher

Norm Buchko, Retired DSS Teacher

Debbie Lindsay, DYSL

Randy Callaghan, PCL Construction

Philip Raphael, Publisher South Delta Leader

Laurie Collicutt, Delta Parks and Recreation

Teresa Phillips, District Administrator, Delta School District

Denis Denischuk, Delta Community Foundation

DSS will be graduating some impressive students this spring, who in the words of  Delta Mayor, Lois Jackson, “may just save the world.”

Mayor Lois Jackson reviews Cameron Phillips' Grad Transition's plan

As we consider a vision for what we aspire to as a learning community, I am deeply inspired by the stories of students who will be leaving us with a strong sense of accomplishment in what they have done and an equally strong sense of purpose for what they will do in the future.