Our students have so many amazing stories to share. The Meadowridge Awards and Recognition Committee aims to acknowledge the achievements of our outstanding students. Each term, teachers from Elementary, Middle, and High School nominate students who have exemplified the characteristics of the Learner Profiles in a memorable and inspiring manner. Through our Gryphons of the Term, we hope that, as a community, we can learn about the “stories of our students.”

Tim Z. - Grade 6

Balanced, open-minded, and caring, these are the traits Grade 6 student Tim Z. portrays. A dedicated student, musician, and athlete, Tim carefully manages his time between academics, competitive swimming, and playing double bass. "I joined VYSO because playing an instrument helps with other areas of academics and supports higher education," he explains. Initially learning the guitar, Tim embraced the challenge of transitioning to the double bass and now performs in concerts at schools, theatres, and churches. "What I love most is spending time with people in the orchestra. I’m friends with some of the cello players, and we take out time to socialize between performances,” he shares. Tim joined the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO) and Olympian Swimming.

Training four times a week, Tim thrives on the endurance and discipline required for swimming, pushing himself to improve. "I enjoy racing and trying to get my personal best," he explains. Juggling school, music, and swimming requires careful planning, and Tim stays disciplined by structuring his time efficiently. "Swimming goes until 9:00pm, so I plan my homework around it,” he says. His caring nature is evident in his support of teammates.

"Even in practice, we do relays and always cheer for our teammates. When people encourage me, it helps, and I see the difference, so I like to support them too."

Tim hopes to continue both passions, possibly joining a university orchestra or swim team. His goal this year is to continuously stay focused, use his time wisely, and maintain balance through sports and social activities that help him reset like soccer at recess. "Keeping busy helps,” he reflects. His dedication, teamwork, and positive mindset make him a true Meadowridge Gryphon.

Alyssa Z. - Grade 5

Alyssa Z. is a passionate Grade 5 student who exemplifies risk-taking, communication, and caring leadership. Her friends describe her as funny, kind, and “weird in a good way. " She embraces every opportunity the school offers, whether it’s public speaking, performing on stage, or excelling in hockey as the only girl on an all-boys team.

Alyssa has always been eager to step outside her comfort zone. With minimal preparation, she recently spoke at the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Assembly, sharing the significance of her Chinese name, Zhu Zi An, representing royalty and good fortune. Although initially nervous, she viewed it as an opportunity to connect with her community and build confidence in public speaking. Her love for performing goes beyond speeches; she has a deep passion for acting. After working backstage for The Aristocrats production last year, her friends encouraged her to audition for The Addams Family this year, and she landed the role of Gomez! For Alyssa, being on stage means transforming into different characters and reliving the story firsthand, a process she enjoys just as much as the performance itself.

Alyssa's caring nature is evident in her thoughtful gestures towards classmates and teachers. Her motivation comes from a lesson she learned from her aunt: "Would you rather be loved or love others?" Alyssa chose to spread kindness, believing that making others happy creates warmth in her heart. She went out of her way to make a classmate’s birthday memorable, celebrating all week to ensure he felt included and appreciated.

Alyssa is a dedicated hockey player competing with boys in the Maple Ridge Rustlers Competition League. She started in figure skating but soon realized she preferred the fast-paced nature of hockey. Inspired by older teammates and friends, she has been playing for three years, training four times a week for six hours, including off-ice drills. She loves the cold breeze on the ice, the energy of the game, and camaraderie amongst her teammates.

Being on a team has also taught her leadership skills, which she applies in the classroom. She sees similarities between public speaking, acting, and hockey, recognizing that leaders, whether on stage, in school, or on the ice, need confidence, direction, and the ability to communicate effectively.

Despite her busy schedule and early mornings hockey practices, Alyssa finds ways to recharge and stay balanced. She enjoys quiet moments in the North Forest, silent reading after lunch, and simply walking around with friends without a plan, just talking and unwinding. This year, Alyssa is most excited about the Grade 5 Exhibition, a key project that allows students to explore topics they are passionate about. She hopes to collaborate with friends to research and showcase their learning meaningfully.

Alyssa Zhu is a caring leader, a confident communicator, and a risk-taker who enthusiastically embraces every opportunity.

Felix N. - Grade 9

Felix N., a Grade 9 student at Meadowridge School, exemplifies risk-taking, principle, and balance. Winning two gold medals at the 2024 BC Summer Games in the Male K-2 1000m and Mixed C-2 1000m required him to push past physical and mental limits.

A true risk-taker, Felix embraced the challenge of mastering sprint boats despite their instability, proving his resilience and determination. He first discovered paddling at a summer camp and worked up to competition-level racing, finding joy in the sport’s demanding yet rewarding nature. Beyond the competition, he values the strong sense of sportsmanship in paddling, calling it “a more gracious sport” with a welcoming community that values camaraderie and teamwork.

Felix also balances his many commitments by staying organized and using a planner to manage training, school, and personal time. Outside of athletics, he is Meadowridge’s go-to audio technician, managing sound for the high school theater productions, a role he finds just as rewarding as paddling.

Whether behind the scenes in the theater or on the water, Felix brings adaptability, creativity, and dedication to everything he does. His advice for newcomers? Just go for it and enjoy it.