Financial Award Donors Recognized at 33rd Annual Donor Dinner

Last year, donors in Chilliwack gave over half a million dollars to support graduating students in the Chilliwack School District. On March 4th, students, staff, and donors gathered at Imagine High to celebrate the impact of those gifts at the 33rd Annual Donor Dinner.  

In June 2025, nearly 300 students received awards through the District’s Financial Awards Program. The contributions came from 115 community donors including service organizations, local businesses, sports clubs, Indigenous communities, Parent Advisory Committees and individual donors. 

During the dinner, Superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam spoke in honour of retired Principal and Kiwanian, Peter Brown. Brown faithfully attended 32 donor dinners as an educator and a donor. He passed away in the summer of 2025.  

“Peter believed in students. He believed in service. And he believed in showing up. So many students in Chilliwack were shaped by his leadership and his kindness. Tonight, in many ways, we continue that legacy of service and generosity that he embodied so well,” said Arul-pragasam. 

Students from the Professional Cook 1 Dual-Credit Program worked alongside Imagine High Chef Tim Bedford and Chef Journeyman Kevin Hordichuck to serve a six-course meal. This was the students’ first major event.

The evening also included performances by students from Imagine High Theatre Company. The group is preparing for their production of The Sound of Music which opens March 10th. 

For many donors and community members, it was their first time visiting Imagine High. 

“It meant a lot for our students to be able to host the event at Imagine High,” said Imagine High Principal, Brooke Haller. “Student volunteers from across all the high schools in the district came together to support the event, and it was wonderful to see students from every school contributing their time and energy to make it a success.” 

The District recognized new financial awards and donors for the 2025/2026 school year: On Deck Marketing, Neil and Barbie Wood, Dan Coulter Memorial Award, Professional Cook 1 - Imagine High, Nicholas Trasky Memorial Award, Keith Carmichael Culinary Arts Memorial Award, Meet the Challenge Award, and Chilliwack Community Dry Grad. 

Arul-pragasam closed the evening by reminding donors of the profound difference their contributions make to students and families. 

“As Superintendent, I have the privilege of seeing the impact of your contributions. I hear from students who say a scholarship brought relief to their families and allowed them to focus more fully on their next steps. And I see pride and confidence in their faces at commencement, knowing their community invested in their future,” said Arul-pragasam. 

“Whether you represent a business, a service club, a community organization, or you are an individual making a personal contribution, please accept our sincere gratitude. Your kindness creates momentum. One act of generosity inspires another. One opportunity given to a student can change the trajectory of a life.” 

Spring health for kids 

The Chilliwack School District is committed to caring for ourselves, each other, the community and the land through our well-being goal. To support this goal, we share resources and articles from Fraser Health that promote the well-being of all learners including their physical, emotional, and mental health. This month, Fraser Health is sharing information about spring health. 

The spring season is approaching which means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. It’s also an opportunity to foster new healthy habits for our children. Here are five practical tips for school-aged kids to make the most of this season.  

Get active   

Warmer weather makes spring the perfect time to get outside and play. Take a walk around your neighbourhood or head to a local park or hiking trail. You can also stay active close to home with jump rope or hopscotch in your neighbourhood. 

Think fresh   

Springtime often brings up images of fresh fruits and vegetables. Now is a great time to teach children about where food comes from by helping them to start their own home garden. You don’t need a large space to get started. Any bright space indoors or outdoors can be used to grow fresh food.

Be sun safe 

Sunburns are possible, even in spring. Use a sunscreen that has Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or more. When possible, schedule outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon and early evening. If you and your children are out in the sun during mid-day hours, wear long sleeves, loose-fitting long pants and a hat.  

Be prepared for extreme weather 

Spring weather can be very unpredictable and can bring heavy rains or heat. Make sure you and your family are ready for possible flooding, heat and indoor air quality issues. 

Plan for summer heat by preparing your home early. Find tips on Window safety for children as well as information and resources, including programs to help, at Fraser Health’s Before a heat event page.

Practice road safety  

Biking is a great way to exercise and spend quality time with your family. Remember to keep safety top of mind. Protect their heads with a well-fitted helmet and teach them the rules of the road, such as the hand signals for stop, right and left-hand turns. Check out our Fraser Health’s Bike safety for children page.  
For tips on all of this and more, check out Fraser Health’s Spring health guide. 
 

Student Teams Find Success at Annual Game Jam

Student teams from Imagine High spent 24 hours over the weekend creating video games during the annual Game Jam. The event was hosted by Imagine High and the Chilliwack Innovation Network. In total, twenty Imagine High students competed in the competition alongside adult participants.    

At the end of the second day, each game was assessed by a panel of industry-experienced judges who looked at game concept, completeness, pitch and demo. 

“The judges remarked on how poised and polished our teams were as they demoed their games live and presented their pitches,” said Imagine High teacher, Matt Slykhuis. “For the first time ever all six student teams were able to successfully complete their games in within the 24-hour time limit.” According to Slykhuis, game jams are notoriously difficult, often leading to a less than 50% success rate for competitors.

The competition included gamers, creative artists, college and university students, and secondary students. Each team was expected to bring knowledge of programming, art, music and sound effects, game design, project management, and business.  

Imagine High is an Integrated Arts and Technology secondary school where students learn by connecting subjects instead of studying them one at a time. Fine arts, media arts, and technology provide tools for students to explore and share their learning. As part of its Video Game Development Program, Imagine High offers courses including Game Development, Art for Video Games, Video Game Business Startup, and Arcadecraft.

According to Creative BC, in 2023 there were over 21,400 jobs in British Columbia’s interactive digital media industry and the industry had a direct output of $1.9 Billion. 

Learn more about courses at Imagine High by visiting their website. 
 

Learning Centre Brings Students Back to Campus

Success looks different for each student. That’s why the Chilliwack School District creates opportunities to meet the unique needs and aspirations of our students.

In September, the Chilliwack School District Learning Centre opened its doors. The Centre serves students for whom the district's traditional school environments don't work. Kw'íyeqel Secondary School (KSS) is the district's Alternate Education secondary school. The Learning Centre is its third campus. A teacher team works out of the Learning Centre, and an Education Assistant is available four days a week. Students remain connected to broader KSS team, including a Learning Assistant Teacher, School Counsellor, Indigenous Education Assistant and Youth Care Workers. 

Since September, the Learning Centre has provided over 50 non-attending students (grades 9-12) with a path to graduation. Half of those students now regularly attend the Learning Centre. With the support of staff and community partners, students are reengaging with education. Flexible schedules, self-paced learning, and positive social dynamics meet them where they're at.

Students sometimes face barriers that make attending a typical school difficult. These might be legal or wellness barriers. Some students are balancing work commitments or challenging home circumstances. The Learning Centre provides flexible, low-barrier daily access in a major city corridor.

The District Bridge Team also calls the Learning Centre home. The team supports middle school students who struggle with regular attendance and engagement. They work with families to identify barriers that prevent youth from attending school. The team connects students with support to help them overcome some of these barriers. Working out of the Learning Centre allows for a coordinated, wrap-around approach.

“We are really proud of the work of staff to get the Learning Centre up and running so quickly. It has been a team effort to open the doors this fall and immediately start helping students who otherwise were staying at home. We are seeing the impact already, as students are finding success with regular attendance and course completions.” said Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Kirk Savage.

Broadcast Students to Stream Chilliwack Christmas Parade

Secondary students at GW Graham will take center stage at Five Corners in downtown Chilliwack this weekend as they record and stream this year’s Chilliwack Christmas Parade. The parade is hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack in partnership with the City of Chilliwack.

The school’s Broadcast Production class, made up of students aged 14 to 16, is now in its third year. Students in the program are involved in community events across the city. They gain extensive experience capturing live performances, including elementary school productions and concerts by the Chilliwack Youth Orchestra. 

The class's coverage of the Christmas Parade will add another high-profile event to the program’s growing portfolio, showcasing the skills students continue to develop in live broadcasting and event production. The Chilliwack Christmas Parade is at 5:30pm on Saturday, November 29. 

At the November 2025 Board of Education Meeting, Assistant Superintendent Paula Jordan provided an update on the program. Broadcast Production 10/11/12 was approved as a Board/Authority Authorized (BAA) Course in December 2024. Through theory and practice, students develop analytical skills, gain hands-on experience, and produce live television production for schools and the community. 

Broadcast Production is an example of how Chilliwack School District provides equitable, engaging and high-quality learning environments that nurture the unique strengths, interests and aspirations of every student.

Watch the livestream: View the Parade – Chilliwack Christmas Parade. 
 

Response to Unexpected Health Emergencies

In July, the Minister of Education and Child Care amended the Support Services for Schools Ministerial Order to address school districts' response to unexpected health emergencies. The amended order requires Boards of Education to establish and publish a policy or procedure for responding to unexpected health emergencies in schools.  

The order also says that school districts must ensure that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and naloxone are accessible at each school in the district. Chilliwack School District has had AEDs available at all schools and sites since 2021. AEDs are placed where they are accessible by students, staff, and community members in case of a health emergency. 

As of September 2025, nasal naloxone is accessible for use by administrators at all elementary schools and by administrators and Occupational First Aid Attendants at all middle and secondary schools. The district has a procedure that outlines how to respond to a potential opioid poisoning. It provides clear guidelines for staff who have been identified and trained to recognize and respond to signs of a student opioid poisoning at school sites and during school-sanctioned events. 

Under the Good Samaritan Act, anyone can provide emergency assistance to an ill, injured, or unconscious person in an emergency situation outside of a hospital setting.

Learn more about AEDs and naloxone in schools: 

Administrative Procedure 440: Opioid Poisoning Response

Administrative Procedure 445: Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)