When we wake up in the morning, one of the first prayers Jews traditionally say is the Modeh Ani prayer. Every day is meant to begin with gratitude and appreciation.

I have always appreciated that mindset, and it is one that I would like to express now. King David is a remarkable school and community. I feel so lucky, appreciative, and privileged to work at such a special place. My year has been filled with an immense sense of gratitude. Thank you to our students. Thank you to our families. Thank you to our community members. Thank you to our donors. Thank you to our hard-working, dynamic, and inspiring staff. It has been an incredible year, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Last night, Beth Israel was filled with families, friends, alumni, King David staff, and students, all gathered to celebrate the Class of 2025. Our Deputy Head of School, Alex Monchamp, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening, striking the perfect balance between heartfelt reflections and lighthearted humour. Each year, the graduates select a peer to give the student D’Var Torah. This year, we heard from Tom Goodman, who delivered a beautiful and meaningful D’var Torah. In his thoughtful D’var Torah on Parashat Nasso, Tom reflected on the idea that leadership begins with seeing the value in every individual.

Our Senior Girls Soccer team proudly represented King David and the Jewish community at the 2025 BC School Sports Single “A” Girls Soccer Provincial Championships in Duncan, BC. Our journey to provincials was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. Throughout the regular season, we competed in a league filled with larger schools, facing some very tough games that tested our abilities and spirit. These challenges pushed us to grow tremendously as a team, preparing us for our remarkable playoff run.

On Wednesday, our community came together for Celebration 5785, King David’s annual Year-End Celebration, recognizing the accomplishments of our incredible students. The Atrium buzzed with excitement as parents, students, and staff gathered to reflect on a fantastic year. Awards were presented across all grades and disciplines, celebrating not only academic excellence but also effort, growth, and positive impact.

Grade 9 and 10 students spent three unforgettable days at Keats Camp on beautiful Keats Island! With 95 students and 14 staff, the retreat was full of adventure, kayaking, archery, hiking, and team challenges on the low ropes course. Evenings brought outdoor games, trivia, and crowd-favourite karaoke.

What an incredible evening! Our community gathered for a truly memorable night full of joy, connection, and celebration. The festivities kicked off with an outdoor Pre-Reception, where Grade 12 students Amy Feldman and Fina Stolowicz spoke beautifully about the meaningful impact their time at King David has had on them. From there, we moved into the Sanctuary, where the ever-charismatic Howard Blank, our Master of Ceremonies, kept the energy and excitement going strong!