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Midtown Showdown’s Biggest Year Yet
Hamber’s Midtown Showdown (MTSD) was first hosted in 2011. Now, Hamber’s new building has enabled 24 teams from across the Lower Mainland to compete from Jan. 23–25. The event became a showcase for other groups. Dancers performed during halftime, the school band played by the bleachers at breaks, scorekeepers worked diligently from the sidelines, and the cheerleading club displayed their routines for the crowd. Hand-painted posters were hung up around the gym for the participating teams and each Hamber player.
The Griff's Promising Return
New school, new store! After a four-year hiatus, Eric Hamber’s student store, the Griff, is open again, selling drinks and snacks. But is it here to stay? The Nest sat down with Griff president Renee Kwok (11) to get the behind-the-scenes on the reimagined student store.
Childcare Centre At Hamber Opens April 1
Hamber’s fourth floor will serve as a childcare centre for children aged 0 to 5, as part of a joint effort between the Vancouver School Board (VSB) and the City of Vancouver. While the VSB provides space and cleaning services, the city has funded the construction costs and planned the traffic flow in the parking lot. Set to officially open on April 1, the daycare will bring changes to traffic patterns, particularly near Hamber’s east entrance, which will become the designated pickup and drop-off area for the childcare centre.
Inside Hamber’s LAC and LA/LS Classes
Hamber’s Learning Assistance Class (LAC) and Learning Assistance/Life Skills (LA/LS) program are a key part of the VSB’s learning support programs, offering modified education separate from mainstream classes. LAC runs at individual junior and senior levels, while LA/LS combines junior and senior students. Rather than Dogwood diplomas, LA/LS students are awarded Evergreen certificates, which are based on the completion of individual educational programs.
Unveiling the Future: Hamber's Memorable Opening Ceremony
After years of construction, and a year-long delay, it was only fitting that the new Eric Hamber opened its freshly-painted doors with fanfare. At the end of the first full week of classes, on Friday Sept. 13, the school hosted an opening ceremony. The event was attended by district officials, alumni, the building’s architects, students, staff, and representatives from the Musqueam Nation.
Cellphone Ban - What's changed in Hamber Classrooms?
In January, Premier David Eby announced the implementation of cell phone restrictions in all BC schools at the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year. The policy states that school boards must adopt multiple regulations restricting the use of personal digital devices in their codes of conduct. But after nearly two months under the ban, has anything actually changed?
Class of 2025: The First Graduating Class in the New School!
As Hamber left the old building, grade 12s left behind the infamous grad hall. However, with a new school comes new traditions, and grads are hoping to make their final year at Hamber (and their first in the new building) the best one yet.
New Year, New Hamber
While every school year brings its own set of challenges, this year posed one of the biggest ones yet for Hamber students and staff: the transition into a completely brand new school. As the weeks progressed, Hamberites became more accustomed to the reality of the new building and students and staff alike started noticing both the benefits and drawbacks of the new school.
A Look Inside The New LLC
Hamber’s new Library Learning Commons (LLC) opened on Oct. 15, following much anticipation. While some students were confused as to if they could enter the space or not, the grand opening was ultimately a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Hamber Faces Laptop, Projector Funding Shortage
Eric Hamber currently owes over $180,000 in repayments, due to the costs of installing more than 40 LCD projectors throughout the school and televisions in select classrooms.
Take Notes, Hamber
Note-taking is one of the many skills every student needs in order to survive and excel high school. Here are some tips and tricks shared by your fellow Hamberites!
Eric Hamber’s New Principal
As Hamber students enter a new school year in a new building, they have been greeted by a new face: Mr. J. Lauzon (Administration) joined the school in September as our newest principal.
OPINION | Five Trailblazers More Deserving of our School’s Name than Eric Hamber
Eric Hamber didn’t break any barriers or challenge discriminatory societal norms. He didn’t do anything significant, but these five trailblazers did — and they deserve recognition too.
EDITORIAL | Advice for our New Principal
Every high school is different, and as longtime Hamber students and advocates, we would like to take this opportunity to share some counsel with the future leader of our community.
Hamberites Weigh In On Presentation Platforms
What makes an engaging presentation? Body language, clear speech, aesthetics, and of course, a good presentation platform! Here is what Hamberites think of various presentation platforms.
Meet Hamber's Real Permanent Vice Principal
Hamber’s new permanent vice principal, Mr. N. Despotakis (Administration), has recently begun his term for the remainder of the school year, following two temporary vice principals.
Old Halls to New Walls: Students’ Thoughts on Moving Schools
This year marks the end of an era. At the end of June, students will say goodbye to the school for more than just the summer, as Hamber moves into the new building for the 2024–2025 school year.
Team Aphelion’s CanSat Win
On May 12, a small group of Eric Hamber students — known as Team Aphelion — sent a tiny rocket 3,000 feet into the clear afternoon sky of Lethbridge, Alberta. This feat was accomplished as part of the CanSat Design Challenge, a competition in which teams of secondary school students from across Canada participate in a single engineering challenge.
Student Council’s Next Chapter
Beginning in early April, Eric Hamber students began their campaigns for Hamber’s 2024–2025 student council (StuCo). Voting occurred on Apr. 23, and results were announced on Apr. 25.
Standardized Testing is Making a Comeback
The vast majority of universities across North America do not require applicants to submit their scores for standardized tests. However, on Apr. 11, Harvard University reinstated the requirement for submitting these standardized test scores starting in the fall of 2025 according to The New York Times.