“I was shocked and surprised,” said Battistin. “I just figured another year had passed.” 

Battistin is a veteran educator who has been involved with coaching for over three decades. In addition to his work at NWSS, he continues to serve on the board of the Burnaby ľĹÖÝÖ±˛Ąs Athletic Association, where he previously served as president for two years. 

He was nominated for the BCSS Citation of Excellence by his colleagues: Chelsea Goodchild, Ken Bowman, and Roger Hamerton. 

According to BCSS, these awards celebrate individuals and schools whose outstanding contributions strengthen school sports and student-athletes’ experiences within their communities. The citation Battistin will receive on May 8 at a ceremony in Whistler, B.C. recognizes his dedication and leadership as NWSS’s athletic director. 

BC School Sports is the provincial governing body for interscholastic athletics, supporting a network of over 450 public and independent member schools. Each year, BCSS enables more than 123,000 student-athlete registrations across 18 sports and delivers over 60 provincial championships. 

“I want to thank my PE staff for their continued support, patience, and understanding,” said Battistin. “I also want to thank our volunteer coaches, because without them, there is no program to administer.” 

“It was a wonderful opportunity to share what [we] do and to celebrate youth involved in the performing arts,” said Frances Monteleone, one of the NWSS teachers who has been part of the staff group involved in producing musicals at the school since 2008. “There were cheers and laughter and high-fives, and a lot of love shared. Everybody is so incredibly supportive of each other.” 

Monteleone works alongside other seasoned staff production veterans at the school that include teachers Traci Cave, Lindsay Waldner, Luke McAndless-Davis, and Steve Clements.

“I’m so proud of our students’ achievements,” said Mark Davidson, ľĹÖÝÖ±˛Ąs’ superintendent. “It’s amazing what they have accomplished through talent, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence.” 

The team’s work on “Mamma Mia!” received accolades in the following categories: 

• Outstanding Lead Performance – Rebecca Vander Zalm 

• Outstanding Musical Theatre Solo Vocal Performance – Rebecca Vander Zalm (2^nd Place) 

• Outstanding Supporting Performance – Olivia Muir 

• Outstanding School Production – 2^nd Place 

• Outstanding Creative Team in a School/Program Production – 1^st Place 

• Outstanding Musical Theatre Large Group Dance Performance – “Lay All Your Love on Me” 

• Outstanding Musical Theatre Dance Ensemble Overall Excellence – “Lay All Your Love on Me” 

Nominations were submitted by community members, parents, and program teachers to the Canada Young Theatre Awards, where entries were judged by local theatre professionals. 

The Canada Young Theatre Awards celebrates talented young performers and recognizes outstanding achievements in several areas reminiscent of larger ceremonies like the Academy and Tony Awards. This year’s nominees attended a three-hour formal gala at the BMO Theatre Centre where the prizes were awarded. Attendees were by invitation only. 

The NWSS Musical Theatre Program is no stranger to praise for the work its staff and students put into their shows. The program was similarly honoured in 2024 when the Canada Young Theatre Awards selected “Shrek: The Musical” as that year’s winner for “Outstanding School Production”. 

“Mamma Mia!” was a return to form. Like all of the program’s main-stage productions, work began the previous school year when the staff production team auditioned students and selected 50 performers for the as-yet undetermined musical. Interviews were, likewise, held for technical and backstage crews and musicians were recruited for the pit band. Together with student hair and makeup artists, “Mamma Mia!” was the cumulative work of more than 100 NWSS students. 

After being accepted into the Musical Theatre Program in spring, students began the process of auditioning for actual roles in September in what would become an intensive, but ultimately rewarding, experience for many not accustomed to the rigours of putting on a professional quality show.  

“[Students] run a daily class on timetable in the first semester and then a block that meets after school,” Monteleone explained. “We have a strong group dynamic. We’re all invested and passionate and we work hard to create a strong community.” 

During technical and show weeks, staff and students dedicated 80 hours of work outside of school hours. These efforts were supported by staff like department head Jeff Meville, who provided photography and design along with video with assistance from Brent Foster, and Scott Hodson and Chelsie Goodchild, who assisted with the lobby displays. NWSS alumnus Alden Sudjatmiko also contributed by editing the video performances, helping the entire team cross the finish line. 

“They spend around five months putting the show together with additional rehearsals on weekends and lunch hours,” said Monteleone. “Students and teachers alike experience high stress, but the learning is incredible and worth the pressure.” 

“Their creativity and work ethic are truly outstanding,” said Susana Quan, New Westminster Secondary School’s principal. “The program’s impact reaches far beyond the theatre. It’s developing future leaders, collaborators, and compassionate thinkers.” 

Not content with resting on its laurels, the NWSS Musical Theatre Program already has its sights set on the next slate of junior musical productions. Coming in June are “Between the Lines JR” and “Emma! A Pop Musical”. 

Gallery

We look forward to welcoming you to our New Westminster Secondary School Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, April 2. 

Registration for booking conference appointments opens on Monday, March 9 2026, at 7:00 PM. 
You can register and book your appointments    by visiting:  

Registration will close on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM. 

Please note that we are unable to provide support with registration issues during Spring Break (March 16–27). 

We encourage you to have your student attend the conference with you and take the lead in discussing their progress. 

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• Clinic Date: January 15th, 2026 – Grade 9 Immunization Clinic (Incomplete Day).
• Location: Grand Commons
• 9:30 am to 12:08 pm: Last names A – C
• 12:58 pm to 3:30 pm: Last names D – I

• Clinic Date: January 28th, 2026 – Grade 9 Immunization Clinic (Truncated Day)
• Location: Grand Commons
• 9:30 am to 11:40 am: Last names I – M
• 12:10 pm to 3:30 pm: Last names M – Z

• Catch-up Clinics for All Grades:
• February 25th, 2026 – Truncated Day
• April 1, 2026 – Truncated Day

Consent Required: Please provide consent by visiting or return the completed paper consent form to the school. Consent forms were sent home on December 12th, 2025. If your child did not bring one home, please visit the office to pick up a form.

Students who are currently in grades 8 to 10, along with their parents, are invited to join our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme information session on Wednesday December 3rd, 2025, in the NWSS Gym. Learn about how the IB program can support all learners: for those interested in getting a jump on their post-secondary opportunities and for those who want to delve deeper into individual courses that spark their passions and interests.

The information session will be held in the NWSS Gym, doors open at 6pm, with the presentation starting promptly at 6:15pm. Our post-secondary fair is happening on the same night, so you will be able to ask universities questions about IB as well. However, this means parking will be limited so please try to arrive early.

What is IB? It’s a dynamic, engaging program that supports all kinds of students. It’s a great option for students looking to develop their academic skills for post-secondary, and possibly earn early university credits while in high school. It can be a great way to help prepare the students for university level classes. For other students it’s a way to engage them more deeply in specific subject matter and courses that interest them. Ultimately, it’s an investment in students’ future success.

Here’s what we’ll cover at the meeting:

• NWSS’s IB Admissions policies and timelines
• A full review of courses available
• Outlines the difference between an IB Diploma and our partial course options
• Find out how we’re continuing to grow our options to offer more pathways to an IB Diploma
• Discussions of suggested courses for students to take in grades 9 & 10, including the specific IB pre-requisite courses
• A full outline of the opportunities available to NWSS IB students

Did you know? Research shows that IB students are better prepared for university and are more likely to complete their degree. Learn more in IB’s study in conjunction with UBC and U of T:

Please join the IB Admissions mailing list here, where we will be sending out updates and reminders during the IB admissions process: