Eleven Grade 9 and 10 students earned serious trail cred on their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh trip to Cheakamus Lake. After hiking through old-growth forest, they set up camp by the chilly lake, braving cold nights, cooking together, and embracing backcountry life. From exploring trails to improving the campsite, students showed resilience, teamwork, and a great attitude. More than just checking a box, the trip pushed them beyond their comfort zones and strengthened their bond with nature and each other.

Israeli flags were hanging, stations were stocked, food was prepared, and bouncy castles were ordered! Anticipation filled the air on Thursday morning as everyone prepared to start Operation Blue and White!

At King David, Holocaust education goes beyond textbooks, it’s a living commitment to memory, identity, and responsibility. Since February, our Holocaust Studies 12 students have been leading initiatives that foster deep connections with history and the Jewish people. Partnering with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC), they serve as docents, guiding students from King David, Vancouver Talmud Torah, and local public schools through the In Focus exhibit, turning history into moments of reflection and transformation.

Over Passover, we reflect on the transition from slavery to Freedom – m’avdut l’cherut – מעבדות לחירות. When I think about freedom, I often think about the concept of opportunity: the opportunity to feel safe, to explore, to question, to experience, to help others, and more. I am heading into the Passover break having recently experienced many exciting events related to the opportunities provided by the Jewish day school experience.

The BC First Peoples 12 class had the incredible opportunity to visit the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC, where they explored Indigenous art, history, and contemporary issues. A highlight was the guided tour of the Northwest Coast collection, featuring works by Bill Reid, and the powerful exhibit To Be Seen, To Be Heard, which examined Indigenous visibility during a time of cultural suppression (1900-1965).

There are moments in life when you take a step back and realize just how much your environment has shaped you. Moving to Kingston to attend Queen’s University, I often reflect on King David High School not just as an institution, but as the place that gave me the tools, confidence, and drive to pursue my passions. An unexpected yet invaluable way King David prepared me for life beyond high school was through school plays. At the time, I saw them as just another extracurricular activity, a fun, creative outlet.