Seasons Greetings, Whiteside Families!

 

As we bid you a festive farewell for the holidays, our hearts overflow with gratitude for the joy you've brought to our school community this week. Your kindness and generosity have been the shining stars, making this season truly magical.

This week, our spirited Wolfpack reveled in the festivities of "Star Buck," a spectacular musical that showcased the incredible talents of our students. From the delightful songs to the charming costumes, the entire performance was a testament to the vibrant spirit of Whiteside. A heartfelt thank you to Ms. LB, Ms. Johnson, our fantastic student leaders, and all the performers who made this event so unforgettable. Your participation added an extra layer of joy to our celebration!

The fun didn't stop there—our week was filled with warmth and laughter during hot lunch, Winter Wonderland at Minoru, the excitement of report cards, a delightful staff luncheon (gratitude abounds!), and a wonderful morning of family reading.

As we approach the holiday season, whether you have already enjoyed a wonderful Hanukkah, are celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa, or simply relishing precious moments with loved ones, we encourage you to soak in the magic of this time. Richmond is buzzing with exciting events throughout the month, and we invite you to explore what our city has to offer: Richmond Calendar and Winter in the Village.

May your winter break be filled with moments of peace, relaxation, and the enchantment that the holiday season brings. Cherish the connections with your loved ones and may the magic of this festive time linger in your hearts.

Wishing you and your families a joyous winter break and a Happy New Year! We eagerly anticipate reuniting with you on Monday, January 8^th.

Warmest wishes, The Whiteside Family!

 

STUDENT REPORTS

Term 1 Reports are available online on MyEd Parent Portal.  Logins and temporary passwords have been sent out by district to all parents new to the district.  (The first login must be done from a workstation, laptop, or computer. Do not use an iPad, tablet, or cell phone for this.) Elementary schools will be closed during winter break and will not be able to help you until January.  Previous users, who forgot their passwords, will need to click through the “I forgot my password” hyperlink on the login page to reset their passwords.  

 

More info available on the school website at: https://whiteside.sd38.bc.ca/parents/myed-parent-portal

 

OUTDOOR EDUCATION FUNDRAISING

To help lower the cost of our annual intermediate outdoor education experiences, Whiteside has partnered with Return-It Depot to fundraise.  Return your cans and bottles to our local Return It depot (Unit 110 - 11020 Horseshoe Way), go to the Express area, type in our number 604-668-6419, affix the label to your bag, drop, and go.

 

SNOW DAYS 

When it snows in our community, our school will remain open if possible. No direct announcement will be made saying that schools will be open. Closures, due to snow, will be announced via the SD38 Twitter account, school, and district websites, and on the radio at CKNW AM 980, News AM 1130, CBC AM 690, Fairchild AM 1470, CHQM FM 103.5. Closures will be announced as early as possible prior to the start of the regular school day. 

 

SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

The City of Richmond Community Bylaws have noted their officers have observed an increase in drivers stopping their vehicles on marked crosswalks during pick-up and drop-off times. Vehicles stopped on marked crosswalks create challenges for pedestrians to cross safely, cause sightline obstructions, and make it difficult for drivers of oncoming vehicles to see them, posing a significant safety risk — especially during this time of year with less daylight. Bylaw enforcement officers may be issuing tickets for vehicles stopping on marked crosswalks.

 

PAC MEETINGS

PAC are amazing resources for our entire school community. A strong PAC bonds our school community with our families. PAC is an excellent way for our families to connect directly with the action at our school as well as develop relationships within the parent community. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, January 16^th at 6:30 p.m.! Please reach out to our PAC at whitesidepac@hotmail.com for more information

 

FOUNDATION LANGUAGE ARTS (ENGLISH COURSES)
Designed for adult students (17 years old +) to improve their speaking, listening, vocabulary, fluency, conversation, comprehension and writing skills. FREE for BC residents who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and refugee claimants. International students are welcome to take courses for a fee.

Location
All adult secondary courses are held at our Adult Education Centre (12091 Cambie Road).

Session dates coming up January 2024

Day time – Term 3: January 29 – April 10, 2024            
Mondays to Thursday: 9-11:30 a.m. / 12-2:30 p.m.

Day time – Semester 2: January 29 - June 12, 2024
Monday and Wednesday: 9-11:30 a.m.

Evening – Semester 2: January 30 – June 4, 2024
Tuesday and Thursday: 6:30-9 p.m.

Registration begins
January 10, 2024, at 9 p.m. (current students)
January 11, 2024, at 9 p.m. (general registration)

For more information about our programs, please visit our website at richmondce.ca.

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Our department also offers after-school and weekend programs for children and youth aged 5-18 years old to help strengthen their skills and develop other interests important for their success.

Registration for our winter/spring 2024 programs is now open.
For more information about these programs, please visit www.richmondce.ca.

 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Richmond School District 38 is excited to welcome Kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2019, turning 5 in 2024. These children will begin Kindergarten in September 2024. Please visit our website www.sd38.bc.ca/kindergarten for more information about our online registration process, required documents, important dates, and FAQs.

We encourage families to complete their registration within the Priority 1 registration window, which spans from November to January, to maximize their chances of securing a spot at their catchment school. All registration applications received any time during the Priority 1 registration period will receive placement decisions by February 2, 2024.

 

Videos detailing Kindergarten registration have been made available on our District website, providing new parents with guidance on the registration process, English Language Learner (ELL) assessments, and District Program Options (Early French Immersion and Montessori). These videos are available in English and Mandarin. Please view the videos at www.sd38.bc.ca/kindergarten.

 

Thank you and please share this information with your friends and family who have Kindergarten aged children!

 

FEEDING FUTURES

Recently, the provincial government announced a new Feeding Futures School Program Fund, designed to assist schools in the development and enhancement of school meal programs and other nutritional supports for students.

If you would like to request support for your child at school, please reach out to our principal, Brett Cameron (bcameron@sd38.bc.ca). We are gathering information and look to provide ongoing support wherever possible. Implementation plans are underway, and we want to ensure families are aware, and as always, able to reach out if they require support. All requests will be treated with dignity and your privacy will be respected. We want to work with families to ensure that your children have everything they need to be successful at school. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can help.

 

HEALTHY EATING HABITS

Why healthy snacks are good for you:

You can enjoy snacks as part of your day. If you make healthy choices, snacks can:

• keep you energized
• help support good health
• provide important nutrients
• be an important part of daily eating habits
• help satisfy your hunger between mealtimes

Young children can benefit from snacks as they:

• have small stomachs
• may have trouble eating all of the foods they need at mealtime

Learn more at:

https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/parents-and-children/

 

CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT

If your child is arriving late to school, please check in at the office through the front entrance.

If your child needs to leave school early, please sign your child out at the office and wait at the front entrance for them.

 

WEST COAST RECESS

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.

 

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 days getting shorter and the weather becoming darker and drearier, it is important to remind both drivers and pedestrians to keep traffic safety in mind and remain alert during their commutes. Our east parking lot is closed to parent drivers. Please use the South Arm lot or our drop off lane. Students and families use the crosswalks in front of the school all day. Please be mindful of pedestrians and other cars when driving in front of our school. When using the drop off lane, please continue to pull forward to allow more space behind you, but do not block or park on the zebra crosswalks. Blocking crosswalks creates danger for pedestrians trying to cross to our school. Please drive slowly through the drop-off area.

 

Coming Soon:

Jan. 8                Whiteside re-opens

Jan. 15-19         Jess Dance workshops

Jan. 29              Pro-D day

Feb. 16             Pro-D day

Feb. 19             Family Day

Feb. 28/29        Early dismissal for conferences

Mar. 14            Last day before Spring Break

April 2              Whiteside re-opens

May 17             Pro-D day

May 20             Victoria day

June 27             Last day of school for students

 

Have a great winter break!

 ~Whiteside Elementary