We Will Miss You Mr. Lafond!

Dear Graham Bruce Families,

Mr. David Lafond Is Retiring!

Mr. David Lafond is celebrating his 35^th year working for the Vancouver School Board. After graduating from Simon Fraser University’s Professional Development Program (PDP); his teaching journey began as a Teacher on Call (TOC) in September 1989. In his first week as a substitute teacher at Queen Mary Elementary School, David was offered a grade 4/5 teaching position. He was very grateful for the opportunity to hone his teaching practice as a beginning teacher under the guidance of seasoned colleagues who he considered to be master teachers. It was a humbling experience learning from his mentors.

After seven years of teaching at Queen Mary, David was hopeful to find a new school closer to home as he had just moved to a heritage house in New Westminster. It couldn’t have turned out any better! The year was 1996, and he found a teaching position at Graham Bruce Elementary. It was an ideal location, one in which he would often cycle the 22 km ride; you may have even seen him cycling up Boundary Road on an occasion or two. At Graham Bruce, David would land on A-deck. It was a dynamic place to teach and learn. Amazing staff, parents and of course students. He taught grade 6 while his teaching partner taught grade 5. At the time there was a third class, it was the only fully integrated social development program in the district - an innovative idea at the time. Over the next few years, staff and students where immersed in outdoor education camps, sleepovers on the deck and many other memorable events. It was during this time, David decided to complete a Master of Education at UBC in Curriculum and Instruction.

In 2011, David had an opportunity to work with younger students. He moved from A-deck to Room 101 right next to the office. It was here that he taught primary students and where a song or dance could often be heard echoing down the main hallway corridor from his room! Fast forward to today, 2024. It is with gratitude that David reflects back on all the wonderful colleagues and families that he has worked with over the past 35 years. David will miss the Bruce community who feels like his extended family. Finally, his “words of wisdom” come from the students themselves during our Bruce morning announcements, “Work hard, play safe!” and if he can add “Be kind!” Thank you for all your support, Graham Bruce Community, you will be missed. 

Track and Field @Bruce

We are ending a successful Track and Field season at Bruce! The coaches would like to congratulate our track and field team for their remarkable performance at Swangard Stadium yesterday. Your hard work, determination, and sportsmanship truly shone through, and you should all be incredibly proud! Special gratitude to our coaches, Ms. Roberts, Ms. Tan and Ms. Conley for their dedication and commitment to their students. Without them, this event would not have been possible. Many thanks to our students and parent volunteers for your support.

Grade 7 Year-end trip fundraiser! 

Help support the grade 7s by sending your empty beverage containers to school next Monday June 10th to Wednesday June 12. Grade 7 students will be collecting empty and rinsed containers before school starting at 8:45 AM, and after school until 3:15. They will be located at the back of the school by the basketball courts. You can also drop off clear bags of containers to a Return-it Express location at any time, and use the school's phone number donate your refund to students! Let's keep more plastics out of the landfill, and donate to an important cause!

Parent Volunteer Tea

It takes a village to raise a child and we are grateful that we have many parent volunteers at our school helping in many different ways. Our parent volunteers have received special invitations to attend our Parent Volunteer Tea on Tuesday, June 11 at 2:15pm in the staff room.