Human & Social
A Place for Everyone
At Abbotsford Senior, our proud Panther tradition is rooted in the legacy of school culture in which we strive to provide dozens of opportunities throughout the year with our clubs and teams with everything from football to chess to debate club and knitting. To ensure that we are providing safe, welcoming, and engaging opportunities for our students, we have established a diverse Student Voice committee, which we rely on to help set a focus for the school and its greater community. This year, the committee has two goals, the first, "How can we establish and maintain safe spaces in our school?" and the second, "How can we welcome and include newcomers to Abby Senior?" Check out the clip from one of their recent meetings in our Panther News Broadcast.
Our Leadership Program is thriving with over 100 students and offers opportunities for personal growth and events that build our vibrant school culture.
This year we started a Breakfast Club on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the Rotunda. Join us at 7:45 for baked goods, yogurt, fruit, and waffles, of course. Everyone is invited to the Pump House for Grilled Cheese Fridays as well, an initiative that was started by our staff that has become an Abby favourite.
With over 100 Indigenous students in our school, our Indigenous Department offers a safe space to our students as they work diligently to create individualized learning opportunities that provide the best opportunity possible for our students to be successful, along with meaningful cultural experiences.
We hope that all of these opportunities create a sense of community and culture and helps to create a well-rounded school experience for every one of our students.
Thrifted Threads
On November 20 in the Abby Arts Addition the dreams and hard work of several Abby Sr staff members, lead by ISP EA Desiree Morhart came true. Laid out across 30 tables were hundreds of clothing items donated by the Abby Senior community that students could pick up for free. With jeans, jackets, sweaters, hoodies, and shoes ready for a new home, several dozens of students were able to find just what they needed as the cold weather approached. One of the greatest things about Abby is the care we show to each other and how we come together to support and serve those who need it.
Lunch Program
Every day at lunch, students head to the Indigenous room for community, laughter, and a delicious meal. With a grant from the Feeding Futures program, students who face food insecurity, are able to access a nutritous meal 5 days a week. With almost 75 students participating in the program from all backgrounds, the room is a hub for lunchtime activity. There has been a 30% increase in those who access food assistance programs in Abbotsford since 2019, and here at Abby we hope that with our program in place, students know that they have a meal ready and waiting for them on a daily basis.
There's something here for you!
Did you know that Abbotsford Senior has over 30 clubs that happen at lunch, and after school. Board gamer? We got that. Knitter? We got that. Robotics? We got that. Interested in our IB Program? Try Ignite. Key Club, Debate Club, Chess Club, Art Club, Muslim Student Association, Black Connections, Ethics Bowl, Panther Pride, and Student Voice are just a few of our clubs that might be of interest to you. Our clubs offer students a chance to connect with others in area of passion to not only have fun, but to learn new skills, provide a place of refugee from the busy hallways, and to get involved in our school and greater school community. Check our website under the students tab for more information. Don't see what you want? Come talk to us - we love to support your ideas.