Totems Athletics

Welcome to Aldergrove Community Secondary School Totems Athletics!

At ACSS, we believe athletics is an important part of the high school experience. Our athletic program provides students with opportunities to develop their skills, challenge themselves, build meaningful relationships, demonstrate leadership, and experience the pride that comes from representing their school.

Athletic Director: Ms. Emily Pollastretti

Email: Emily.pollastretti@sd35.bc.ca

Our Core Values

Aldergrove Athletics is proud to represent the Langley School District’s core values of Community, Courage, Integrity, and Excellence. These values guide the way we approach practices, competition, teamwork, and our responsibilities as student-athletes.

Community

We are proud to be part of the Aldergrove community. We support one another, contribute to our school culture, and recognize that athletics is about more than individual teams—it is about building a strong and connected school community.

Courage

We challenge ourselves to step outside our comfort zones, try new things, compete with confidence, and persevere when things become difficult.

Integrity

We conduct ourselves with honesty, respect, and good character. We play fairly, respect the rules and officials, and represent our school in a positive manner.

Excellence

We strive to be the best version of ourselves. Excellence is not simply about winning—it is about preparation, effort, improvement, commitment, and holding ourselves and our teammates to high standards.

Student-athletes are expected to:

• Attend classes regularly and make every effort to succeed academically.
• Communicate openly with teachers about their learning and athletic schedules.
• Complete assignments and tests missed because of games or tournaments.
• Attend practices and games consistently and communicate with coaches when they are unable to attend.
• Commit to their team for the entire season.
• Treat teammates, opponents, coaches, teachers, classmates, officials, and other members of the school community with respect.
• Compete with effort, discipline, self-control, and within the rules of the game.
• Respect the decisions of officials without argument or inappropriate behaviour.
• Win with humility and lose with dignity.
• Represent Aldergrove Community Secondary School positively both in and out of school.

These expectations are outlined in the ACSS Athletic Code of Conduct, which applies to all students participating in school athletics.

Athletics at ACSS

Our goal is to provide students with a wide range of opportunities to participate in school athletics, whether they are competing at a highly competitive level, developing their skills, trying a sport for the first time, or contributing to a team as a manager or official.

Throughout the school year, ACSS offers a variety of individual and team sports across the fall, winter, and spring seasons.

Athletic Fees

Participation on an ACSS athletic team requires an athletic fee. Fees help cover the costs associated with operating and maintaining our athletics program and are subject to change.

2026–2027 Athletic Fees

Athletic fees can be paid through SchoolCash Online, cash, or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Aldergrove Community Secondary School.

What Does the Athletic Fee Pay For?

Athletic fees help support the costs associated with running our athletics program, including:

• Tournament entry fees
• Officials
• Team uniforms and uniform maintenance
• Athletic equipment
• Medical supplies
• Team transportation 
• Year-end Athletic Banquet
• Totems Athletics t-shirt
• A small token of appreciation for coaches at the end of the season

If there are financial concerns regarding an athletic fee, please contact Ms. Pollastretti directly. We want athletics to remain accessible to our students.

Required Forms

Before participating in competition, all student-athletes must complete the required ACSS Athletic Medical/Permission Form and Athletic Code of Conduct. These forms must be completed before a student participates in competition. Coaches will collect and retain the required forms throughout the season.

Player Eligibility

Aldergrove Community Secondary School is a member of BC School Sports (BCSS), which governs high school athletics throughout British Columbia. Student-athletes must meet BCSS eligibility requirements in order to participate in school athletics. Eligibility can vary depending on the sport, grade, age, school history, and season of play.

If you have questions regarding eligibility, please speak with the Athletic Director before participating in a team.

Tryouts & Team Selection

We want every student who is interested in participating in school athletics to have an opportunity to try out.

Coaches determine the number and structure of tryouts appropriate for their sport, with a minimum of two tryouts held on different days of the week. Students who are unable to attend scheduled tryouts because of extenuating circumstances may be provided with another opportunity to demonstrate their skills. Team selection is determined by the coaching staff based on the needs of the team, athlete development, skill, effort, attitude, commitment, and other sport-specific considerations.

Academic Responsibility

Being a student-athlete means being committed to both your team and your education. Athletes are expected to attend classes, remain engaged in their courses, communicate with teachers, and take responsibility for work missed because of athletic commitments. Students who are not in good academic standing may be asked to meet with their teacher, coach, and Athletic Director to determine an appropriate plan moving forward.

Sportsmanship & Fan Expectations

We want ACSS athletic events to be positive environments for athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators. We encourage our fans to cheer loudly, support our Totems, and celebrate the efforts of all athletes while respecting opponents and officials. Spectators are expected to demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship and refrain from behaviour that is critical, distracting, disrespectful, or derogatory toward players, coaches, officials, or other spectators.

Let the players play. Let the coaches coach. Let the officials officiate.

Follow Totems Athletics

Stay up to date with tryouts, team information, schedules, announcements, results, and other athletics news by following us on Instagram:

@acss.athletics

Our Athletics Instagram is one of the primary ways we communicate athletic announcements to students and families.

Coaching & Volunteer Opportunities

A strong athletics program depends on the commitment of coaches, teachers, parents, alumni, and community volunteers. We are always interested in connecting with individuals who would like to contribute to Totems Athletics as a coach, community coach, official, team manager, or volunteer.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Totems Athletics, please contact the Athletic Director.

Go Totems!