What's Happening in Surrey, BC…

Raminder Randhawa, principal of the Strawberry Hill Elementary School in Surrey, has been named one of 50 outstanding principals in Canada; he is one of three in British Columbia who were mentioned.

Mr Randhawa and his fellow principals will be honored at an awards ceremony and gala in Toronto on February 26. The winners will also attend a five-day leadership training program at the University of Toronto.

Outstanding principals can be nominated by their peers, by school staff and by members of the community. They are chosen on the characteristics of successful principals; those seen to be working with parents and the community and those who have taken initiative to improve student achievements. Letters of support are also taken into account.

Mr Randhawa has shown initiative by instituting awards for student success by encouraging students to build on their own leadership skills. He has also brought in a program supporting Somali families and has even taken over teachers’ classes at times to allow them to work on special projects with their peers.

No doubt the Surrey school system will be happy to publicize Mr Randhawa's receiving of the honor. They might even work with local printing companies to design and create either a flyer or a booklet dedicated to Principal Randhawa's achievement. The item could be distributed to all parents in the community and to all principals of Surrey schools; the result might encourage parents to work more closely with the schools and inspire principals who want to follow his leadership ideas in their own schools.