"Stop looking at me, swan!"
Sutherland Secondary students in North Vancouver had the chance to meet Adam Sandler while shooting his latest Netflix film at the school last week. And to celebrate, students and teachers held an “Adam Sandler Day” dressing up as the actor or with Billy Madison inspired outfits.
“It was a really exciting, busy day for the school community,” said Sutherland principal Mark Barrett. “[The students] were so excited.”
While the filming was happening, students had their faces pressed up against the window or around the margins of the scene, Barrett said. In between takes at lunchtime, Sandler heard students were waiting to catch a glimpse of him, and came out taking selfies with the gathered throng.
“He probably took about 20 selfies with different groups of kids,” Barrett said. “For a guy that probably gets asked everywhere he goes all the time to take photos, he was exceptionally accommodating with his time and did his best to try and make the day special for all the kids.”
But it wasn’t just cellphone selfies. Several drama students and wrestlers from Sutherland and neighbouring schools had the chance to be background cast members on set with the A-list actor himself.
The experience will be a memory students won’t forget, Barrett said.
The idea of dressing up as Sandler came from student council back in February as a fun spirit day, said Grade 12 Sutherland student Natasha Lee. Barrett suggested delaying the day to May, and Lee was confused as to why.
But when Sandler came to Sutherland last week, it clicked.
"I was really excited. He's a super cool guy," Lee said. "He was taking a lot of people's phones and taking videos and pictures, everyone was crowding around. The atmosphere was super energetic."
While Lee wasn't in a photo with Sandler, she was still stoked as it's a nice end to high school.
"Getting to meet someone who's famous and then really seeing they're down to earth and a nice person was incredible," she said. "I'm very lucky to have experienced it."
When Barrett heard the "Adam Sandler Day" idea from student council, he was a little surprised.
“Because when I think of Adam and the audience he draws, especially with his comedy, he’s a comedian from the ‘90s from my childhood,” he said. “So the fact that he still resonates today is a testament to his staying power.”
Barrett and two vice-principals got in on the fun too, making Billy Madison t-shirts and snapping a photo with Sandler.
This isn’t the first time a big name has made a stop at Sutherland, Barrett said. In 2024, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took questions from Sutherland students.
“It’s fun that we were able to land a big name in politics and in the entertainment scene to come to our school and get our kids excited,” he said, joking that maybe the Pope will come next year.
Reflecting back on Sandler’s visit, he hopes the actor had a great time at the school.
“I know our kids did,” he said. “It was fun for kids and staff alike who think he’s a wonderful actor and comedian.”
