Welcome back Whiteside families!

 

September is always an exciting time for our community. It has been an amazing first week of the school year at Whiteside. It has been a wonderful week seeing familiar and friendly faces. Although our school is sparkly and new, nothing outshines the smiles on our students’ faces this week.

 

A very special welcome goes out to students and families attending Whiteside for the first time. This year our newsletter will be emailed out to all parents weekly, and it will be sent to the email address(es) that we have on file when your child was registered. There may be times when you are emailed from the school in between those times if important school or district information needs to be sent out in a timely manner so, please continue to monitor your email. Also, please ensure that your email address is up to date with the school office.

 

For many, returning to school can be fun and exciting. For others, it may be an anxious time. We are committed to fostering safe learning spaces for all our learners. Please reach out to the office, counselor, or principal should you need some support.

 

CLASS PLACEMENTS

Thank you to everyone for your patience this week as our school team thoughtfully placed all of our students into their current classrooms.  We are often asked how decisions are made regarding the organization of classes. During the first week we wait until we get an accurate count of all students and then depending on the number of classes that are granted to our school by the district, we then place students into classes. We consider each child's placement carefully based on the following criteria: academic, social, and emotional development, learning styles and strengths of students, integration of students with special needs, degree of independence in student work habits, students who do/do not work well together, and maintaining appropriate class size and composition. We moved into our classes this morning and enjoyed settling into our new rooms with our new teachers.

 

STUDENT PACKAGE OF FORMS:

Next week, we will send home a package of permission forms and information forms to be filled out and returned to your child’s teacher.  It is important that we have up-to-date information, including contact numbers and appropriate medical information. During the year if anything changes, please let Ms. Huh know in the office as soon as possible.

  

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DAY and the NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Just a reminder that school will be closed for our first non-instructional day of the year on Friday, September 22^nd. Whiteside will also be closed in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Monday, October 2^nd. Our Orange Shirt Day assembly will be held on Friday, September 29^th.

 

STAFFING UPDATE

We are pleased to welcome our new and returning staff members who have joined the Whiteside community this year:

Mme David-Harel – EFI K/1

Mme Ledesma – EFI K

Mr. Lenz – Gr. 4/5

Mme Roozbeh – EFI 3/4

Mr. Whelan – Gr. 5/6

We are excited to welcome them to Whiteside!

 

RICHMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT ACCOUNTS

This week, our school district sent an email with your child’s login name for our Scholantis portfolios, SpacesEDU, and Microsoft 360. Not all classes use these online tools. As your child settles into their class, your classroom teacher will be able to assist logins and passwords. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

SCHOOL FEES

Every year we collect $33 for our school fees which includes all basic supplies for our students for the year. There is an additional Cooking and Craft fee ($22) for students in our Kindergarten and K/1 classes only.

 

There is an additional $7 fee for school planners. Planners are an excellent way for grade one to seven students (grade 1-7 only), staff, and children to communicate school assignments and upcoming events. We encourage our students and their families to review their planner regularly.

 

There may also be additional costs for educational field trips during the year. Teachers and staff will be sharing a list of potential field trips and their associated cost shortly. Please use CashOnline to make your payment early. Please contact the office if you have questions about our school fees or need assistance in paying.

 

“IN” DAYS AND “OUT” DAYS:

During recess and lunchtime breaks, students are expected to be outside at all times this year.  Students are strongly encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. You may also send a change of clothes to school just in case your child gets wet. Playing outside will ensure our students get some fresh air and exercise to enliven their day.

 

TERRY FOX RUN

This year, Whiteside is so proud and excited to participate in the Terry Fox School Run on Friday, September 15^th. To date, our school has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research! Terry never quit on his dream of a world without cancer, and neither will we. This year, our goal is $1000 and you can donate in support of cancer research https://schools.terryfox.ca/32913/donate while building fantastic school spirit! Thank you for supporting our school in the fight against cancer and showing your no-quit attitude in honour of Terry! #terryfoxschoolrun @terryfoxfoundation

 

SCHOOL VISITORS

In the interest of safety, everyone entering the school must check in at the office. Classrooms are busy learning places and we try not to interrupt them during instructional time.  If you need to see your child, leave them a message, or drop off a lunch, our office staff will happily take care of that for you.  As well, it is difficult at the end or beginning of the school day for our office staff to have in-depth discussions with parents.  Making appointments either by phone or in person is preferable. Thank you for your support!

 

PARKING LOT SAFETY

With school starting up, it is important to remind both drivers and pedestrians to keep traffic safety in mind and remain alert during their commutes.

Here are some tips for drivers, pedestrians, and parents from ICBC to make travelling to and from school safe for everyone.

 

Drivers 

Stick to the Speed Limit
A 30 km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every school day, unless otherwise posted. In playground zones, a 30 km/h speed limit is in effect every day from dawn to dusk.

Scan Crosswalks and Intersections from Left to Right as You Approach
Watch for pedestrians waiting to cross, especially during school hours.

Leave Your Phone Alone
Distraction is the leading factor for drivers in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

Notice if Other Drivers are Slowing Down or Stopping
If a vehicle is stopped in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding to a pedestrian, so proceed with caution and be prepared to stop.

Give Yourself Enough Stopping Distance
You need more time to stop when you're driving fast. At a slower speed, motorists have better chance to react when children or others are crossing the road. This could be the difference that saves a life.

Watch for School Buses
When their lights are flashing, vehicles approaching from both directions must stop.

 

Pedestrians 

Cross Only at Marked or Controlled Crosswalks
Do not jaywalk or cross when it isn’t your turn.

Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street
Ensure it is safe to cross from both directions of traffic before setting foot on the crosswalk.

Make Eye Contact with Drivers Approaching the Crosswalk
Be certain they see you and that they’ve committed to slowing down to a stop.

Double-Check Lights and Signals are Working at Controlled Crosswalks
Make sure that the flashing traffic lights are operational and haven’t timed out before crossing.

Wait Until the Crossing Guard Says it’s Safe to Cross
If your school has a crossing guard, follow their instructions before crossing – they will make sure it’s safe before guiding you across.

 

Parents 

Let Your Child Enter and Exit Your Car on the Side Closest to the Sidewalk
It’s safest to drop off and pick up as close to the sidewalk as possible. Do not allow your child to cross mid-block.

Before Starting Your Car, Check for Small Children Hidden From Your View
Walk around your car and always look carefully for pedestrians when backing up.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Coming Soon:

 

Sept. 15            Terry Fox Run

Sept. 22            Non-instructional Day – school closed

Sept. 25-29       Aussie Rules Football week

Sept. 26            Meet the Staff night

Sept. 29            Orange Shirt Day assembly

Sept. 30            National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Oct. 2               National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (observed) school closed

Oct. 9               Thanksgiving Day – school closed

Oct. 13             Individual photos

Oct. 18/19        Learning Conferences (1:45 p.m. dismissal)

Oct. 20             Pro-D Day (school closed)

Oct. 31             HUB Cycling begins for intermediate

Oct. 31             Halloween costume parade

Nov. 10             Remembrance Day Assembly

Nov. 11             Remembrance Day

Nov. 13             Remembrance Day observed – school closed

Nov. 20             Pro-D Day (school closed)

 

Have a great weekend!

 ~Whiteside Elementary