Faith, Learning, and Achievement Across CISVA Schools 2016 to 2026. CISVA students in the News.

Faith leads every beginning in Catholic education. Each school year opens with prayer, purpose, and a shared call to form both heart and mind. Students return to classrooms ready to grow in truth. Teachers step forward as witnesses to Christ through their work. School communities gather with a clear mission, to guide young people in faith while preparing them to serve others. Our schools have been featured in BC Catholic and other news sources over the years. The stories reflect more than events. They show how Catholic education lives through daily actions rooted in belief.

Earlier this year, Catholic educators looked to Rome for renewed encouragement in their mission. In reflections tied to the Vatican’s Jubilee of Education, the message from Pope Leo XIV was clear. Education must be rooted in truth, human dignity, and real human relationships. In a time shaped by rapid technological change, Catholic schools remain places of meaning, faith, and encounter. This vision sets the foundation for understanding the life of our schools across the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese.

Across the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese, this vision takes shape each day. Small beginnings build into something lasting across schools that stretch from Powell River to Chilliwack, and Maple Ridge to Surrey. The story shows perseverance, curiosity, and strong community. It reflects a clear purpose, to form students who grow in faith and carry that formation into the world around them.

At Holy Cross Regional High School in Surrey, that formation showed through discipline and unity. A March 11, 2026 feature highlighted two senior girls teams winning provincial championships. The volleyball team secured the B.C. AAA title in November 2025. The basketball team followed with the B.C. AA championship on February 28, 2026 at the Langley Events Centre. These wins reflected a culture built on commitment, encouragement, and prayer.

At St. Patrick’s Regional Secondary in Vancouver, students showed excellence in science and technology. In January 2025, the robotics team earned the Inspire Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge Lower Mainland Qualifiers. Judges recognized both engineering skill and community support. Students combined technical ability with collaboration, showing how innovation grows within a values-based environment.

In June 2024, Christel Mazzek from St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. This national recognition highlighted compassion and service. Catholic education places equal weight on achievement and character. Students learn to lead through empathy and action.

Academic excellence also stands out across the system. In 2023, a St. Patrick’s Regional Secondary graduate received a $100,000 scholarship for academic performance, leadership, and community involvement. That same year, Notre Dame Regional Secondary marked its seventieth anniversary while honoring longtime educator Alan Charlton with a Lifetime Achievement Award. His decades of mentorship shaped generations of students through the arts.

Students continue to support one another across grade levels. In 2019, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary students led a bridge-building engineering project with elementary classrooms. The initiative built technical skills and strengthened mentorship. In 2018, an Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary graduate received the BC Tech Scholarship for leadership in science and mental health advocacy. In 2017, a St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary graduate received the Loran Scholarship, one of Canada’s most competitive undergraduate awards.

At the foundation of these achievements stands faith. In November 2016, students from CISVA elementary schools gathered in Surrey for Spirit Day. Grade 7 students prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation through prayer and reflection alongside teachers and parish leaders. More than a thousand participants came together in a shared expression of faith and community. This moment reflects the foundation upon which all other achievements are built.

When these moments are viewed together, a clear picture forms. Students grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially. Teachers guide with purpose. Communities support each stage of development. Catholic education continues to shape individuals who live their faith through action, leadership, and service.

Sources

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/faith-friendship-and-two-provincial-titles-for-holy-cross-crusaders

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/nota-bene/nota-bene-celebrations-to-service

Abbotsford News
https://www.abbynews.com/community/abbotsfords-christel-mazzek-receives-terry-fox-humanitarian-award/

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/grad-tips-her-hat-and-gown-to-family-for-100-000-scholarship

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/notre-dame-honours-alan-charlton-for-journey-of-education-and-arts

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/building-bridges-high-school-construction-contest-bridges-the-gap-with-elementary-students

BC Tech Association
https://wearebctech.com/meet-the-2018-bc-tech-scholarship-winners/

The B.C. Catholic
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/abbotsford-student-wins-biggest-scholarship-in-canada

Spirit Day Coverage
https://www.icschoolvancouver.com/news-2/2016/11/14/spirit-day-2016