The last Friday of December’s school year means early alarm bells for Vancouver Technical School’s Grade 9 students who are part of the Summit program. Each year, for the past 23 years, students make and serve hot chocolate to deserving bus operators, bright and early, as they pull up to the Broadway stop outside the school.

Van Tech’s traditional catchment area is very long and narrow, and as such, many of the students take transit along the Broadway corridor to arrive at school. Retired teacher Rod McNeill recognized the important roles bus operators play in many of his student’s lives and he cooked up this sweet idea back in 1996. While the kettle has been passed along to various teachers throughout the years, students’ interest and excitement for this day is still piping hot.

A big thanks go out to all the bus operators that service Vancouver Technical School – and beyond, ensuring students make it safely to and from class each day. And an extra special thanks to these students and staff at Van Tech who keep this annual event going.

Author: Sarah Kertcher