Schools across the Richmond School District once again demonstrated the power of community and compassion by raising more than $53,000 through the 2024 Terry Fox School Run. This collective effort contributed to nearly $14 million raised nationwide, supporting vital cancer research in honour of Terry Fox’s enduring legacy.

Students and staff came together to participate in this annual event last fall, reflecting Terry’s values of courage, perseverance and generosity. Their commitment to making a difference was recognized by The Terry Fox Foundation, who celebrated Richmond for its leadership and participation.

Richmond’s involvement in the Terry Fox School Run is a shining example of how purpose-driven learning can inspire positive action. Together, schools across the district are helping to advance cancer research, honour a Canadian hero, and show what’s possible when communities come together.

A plain wall at Tomsett Elementary has been transformed into a vibrant mural that reflects the shared values and voices of the entire school community. The project began with each class exploring a set of reflective questions, including what they want others to know about their school and what they see, hear and feel in their learning environment.

Artist Laura Kwok visited every classroom to gather ideas and student sketches, using these contributions to shape the mural’s final design. A mural committee made up of staff and educators also provided input, helping ensure the piece represented the school’s collective identity.

The mural highlights key values such as kindness, collaboration, learning and diversity. Every student participated in painting, while a group of older students known as the “Aspiring Artists” offered additional support and guidance throughout the process. Creativity became a shared experience, bringing together learners, staff and families in a meaningful way.

As the mural took shape, families visited to watch the progress, staff joined in, and students proudly pointed out their individual contributions. The completed piece now fills the space with colour, warmth and a strong sense of belonging, serving as a lasting reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with purpose and pride.

A once grassy field has been reimagined as a thriving Miyawaki Pocket Forest — a small, dense and biodiverse urban forest made entirely of native species. With support from community partners and conservation groups, students from all grades came together to make it happen.

Leading up to the planting, themes of biodiversity, ecological relationships, and Indigenous plant knowledge were explored. They also engaged in surveys, fundraising and hands-on learning to help bring the project to life.

On planting day, 476 plants — including 105 trees — were carefully placed into the soil, with students joyfully naming and watering their contributions. Some even stayed beyond their scheduled time to help finish the work. The forest will continue to grow as a living classroom, supporting environmental stewardship, place-based learning and a lasting connection to the land.

Students from the Art Careers and IB Visual Arts programs showcased their talents in Explorations, a group exhibition at the Richmond Cultural Centre from April 25 to May 29. The show featured 15 artists who selected works that reflected personal journeys through identity, materials and creative processes. From digital drawings to acrylic paintings and mixed media, each piece revealed a unique voice and vision.

Preparing for a public exhibition pushed these students to take creative risks, refine their techniques, and present their work with confidence. “Framing and sharing their art publicly was a big step,” said the organizing teacher. “It was a celebration of their growth and dedication.” This annual event continues to inspire young artists to explore, question and express themselves through art in meaningful and impactful ways.

Young learners explored digital storytelling through Scratch Jr., a block-based coding platform for early elementary students. Over several lessons, Grades 1 to 3 students created animated stories, from lunar eclipses to wizard adventures, while building foundational coding and storytelling skills.

The open-ended format gave learners the freedom to be creative and try new ideas. They worked through challenges by testing different solutions and learning how to make their code more efficient. Many were excited to share their projects with classmates and teachers, and they enjoyed seeing what others had created.

Throughout the process, participants practiced important skills like storytelling, communication and problem-solving. The activity also supported learning in language arts and digital literacy. Most of all, it helped build confidence and gave everyone a chance to feel proud of what they accomplished.

A Reading Buddies initiative has helped young readers grow their skills and confidence through valuable peer connections. Over six weeks, Grade 2 students were paired with volunteer Grade 6 and 7 “Big Buddies” who acted as reading coaches, offering encouragement and support in a welcoming environment. Guided by strategies developed with the school’s resource teacher, older kids helped their younger peers build fluency, comprehension and a love of reading.

The program has shown positive results, with several participants making noticeable progress toward literacy proficiency. One student, for example, has grown more confident and now greets his buddies in the halls with a smile. In addition to enhancing literacy, the program encouraged leadership, connection and cross-grade relationships.

What’s the best way to figure out how many seeds are in a pomegranate? Students took on this juicy challenge as part of their learning about different mathematical problem-solving strategies.

Working in teams, they explored a variety of approaches — some used guess and check, while others drew diagrams or acted it out. One group cut the fruit open, separated it into sections, and used water to carefully remove and count the seeds. Another group created a simple model to represent the inside of a pomegranate, helping them visualize and estimate more effectively.

By trying out different strategies such as looking for patterns, using logic, or making an organized list, they discovered that there’s often more than one way to solve a problem — and that math can be both creative and hands-on.

This meaningful, real-world activity helped students build confidence in their mathematical thinking and showed them how to make their ideas visible through collaboration and strategy.

A school-wide event brought students together for a high-energy Jump Rope for Heart session focused on heart health, physical activity and community giving. The gym buzzed with excitement as the event kicked off with a student-led presentation on cardiovascular wellness, setting the tone for an afternoon of movement and motivation. Over 300 students participated, jumping with enthusiasm and learning about the importance of lifelong healthy habits.

Organized as part of a student leadership project, the initiative aimed to raise awareness and promote active living, with a fundraising goal to support heart health initiatives. It was the first time the school had hosted this event, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The experience highlighted how student-driven efforts can inspire meaningful change, build school spirit and strengthen community connections.