Welcome back, Whiteside!

 

We’re thrilled to start this new school year together. It’s been fantastic seeing familiar faces and welcoming new students to our amazing school.

 

We’re excited to keep you informed about our school activities. This week, we’ve seen incredible excitement and joy in our classrooms as our students settle into their learning.

 

A friendly reminder: We have a professional development day on September 20th. Please make sure to adjust your schedules accordingly.

 

Next week, we’ll be having a fun-filled Terry Fox Run and a Meet the Staff night. These events are a great opportunity to connect with our school community and learn more about what’s happening in our classrooms.

 

Thank you for your kindness and support as we’ve started this new year. We appreciate your partnership in your child’s education and are excited to watch them grow and learn this year.

 

We acknowledge and thank the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group on whose traditional and unceded territories we teach, learn and live, and upon where the Musqueam people continue their traditions and cultural education.

Coming Events:

Sept. 17            PAC Meeting at 7 p.m.

Sept. 19            Terry Fox Run

Sept. 19            Meet the Staff Night at 5:00 p.m.

Sept. 20            Non-Instructional Day

Sept. 27            Orange Shirt Day assembly

Sept. 30            National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Oct. 1               FSAs begin

Oct. 9               Individual photos

Oct. 10             Emergency Thursday (Fire Drill)

Oct. 14             Thanksgiving

Oct. 15/16        Outdoor Ed at Cheakamus

Oct. 17             Emergency Thursday (Earthquake Drill)

Oct. 23             Learning Conferences (11:50 a.m. dismissal)

Oct. 24             Emergency Thursday (Hold and Secure)

Oct. 25             Provincial Pro-D

 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Hot Lunch

Our first hot lunch day will be Yummy Slice Pizza Day on September 27^th. You can order online through Munch-A-Lunch. Orders are open until September 20^th. Families on our school lunch program will have hot lunch provided for them and do not need to order separately.

 

New families can register at https://munchalunch.com/schools/JamesWhiteside. Our amazing PAC could always use help on hot lunch days. If you can volunteer, please reach out to jameswhitehotlunch@gmail.com.

 

Terry Fox Run – September 19^th at Assembly at 10:30 a.m. and run at 11:00 a.m.

The 2024 Terry Fox School Run is set for this month, and we are so excited to be taking part! Our event will be taking place on Thursday, September 19 at 10:30 a.m. We need your help to boost our student’s fundraising. This event supports vital cancer research while also building incredible school spirit for our students.  Let’s all show how incredible and generous our school community is and work to reach the fundraising goal of $1500.

 

Our 2024 Terry Fox Run is shaping up to be an exciting day.

• First, Mr. Whelan’s class will be raising Toonies for Terry all next week. If you are able, students from Mr. Whelan’s class will visit each classroom every day to collect donations from our students.
• Throughout the week, our classrooms will participate in many activities that celebrate Terry Fox’s life and the ambitious goals he set for himself.
• Next, we will have a Terry Fox assembly in the gym at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 19^th.
• Our run will follow. Led by Mr. Whelan’s leaders, our school will meet on the track path by the playground for a run around our park.
• We are encouraging our Wolfpack to “try like Terry” by running as hard as they can for the duration of the run.
• We invite all parents and families to join us for the assembly and in the run itself or to cheer on our Wolfpack as they run.

 

You can help us, help Terry in 3 easy ways:

 

1. Donate online at: https://schools.terryfox.ca/73404

• Click the link above to donate or search for our school name at terryfox.org
• Receipts are issued immediately to donors by email from the Terry Fox Foundation

 

2. Help your child set up a student fundraising page

• Upload personal photos, videos and messages to share with friends and family
• All student logins and links are private and secure
• Student names are not searchable on our website and links can only be shared by you

 

3. Support your child’s fundraising efforts

• Share their fundraising link or your child’s school’s link with family and friends to help them reach their goal

 

We are very excited to be a part of this year’s Terry Fox event. This is our opportunity to “Try Like Terry” and go the distance for this year’s event.  Please join us to support cancer research while building incredible school spirit for all our students.  Thank you in advance for your support!

 

Meet the Staff Night – September 19^th at 4:30 p.m.

After an amazing Terry Fox Run, we want to keep our community spirit alive by hosting our Meet the Staff night.

 

Our night begins with a Whiteside Family Social in the playground and park at 4:30 p.m. Our amazing PAC will open the concession and sell pizza, snacks, and treats. We encourage our families to arrive early, grab a bite to eat, and meet other amazing families.

 

At 5:00 p.m. we will open our doors and welcome you inside. Each class and the office will have a Whiteside Scavenger Hunt sheet to guide you around other areas to meet other amazing teachers and staff throughout the school. There might even be a prize for visiting all areas!

 

We also invite you to join us in your child’s classroom to see their learning space and have an informal conversation with your teacher. This is not a formal learning conference (those come in October) but an opportunity to say hi and get to know each other a little better.

 

Our Meet the Staff night will end at 6:00 p.m. Remember to claim your scavenger hunt prize before you go!

 

Student Lunches

Lunch time is an important part of our school day. Please help us create a calm, healthy, and positive lunch routine for our Wolfpack.

 

Providing a prepacked lunch helps maintain a consistent routine, which is so important for your child’s well-being and learning. When lunches are bought and dropped off, or when meals are cooked and brought to school, it can disrupt the flow of our day. These last-minute deliveries not only interrupt staff and students but also cut into valuable learning time.

 

Moreover, when students are uncertain about when or if their lunch will arrive, it can cause unnecessary anxiety and distraction. A healthy, prepacked lunch ensures that your child can focus on what matters most during the school day—learning and enjoying their time with friends.

 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. By sending a nutritious lunch with your child each morning, you’re helping us create a more focused, calm, and productive environment for everyone.

 

PAC Updates

Our PAC is a great group of parents that care for our school and students. 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. Please reach out to our PAC at whitesidepac@hotmail.com for more information and an invitation link for our next PAC meeting in September. Our first PAC meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17.

Our 2024-2025 PAC executive:

• Co-Chairpeople – Sandeep Bhullar and Ken Loy
• Treasurer – Jaylene Sandhar
• Secretary – Carrie Viloria
• Hot Lunch Coordinator – Karen Au
• Social Media and Communications – Chris Ho

 

Outdoor Education – Grade 6 Camp

Our grade 6s will be going to Cheakamus near Squamish for their Outdoor Ed trip this fall. They will depart Whiteside early in the morning on October 15 and will return late in the afternoon on October 16. All camp forms are due now.

 

Grade 7 Farewell Hoodies! 

It's that time of year for our Grade 7's to order their Grade 7 farewell hoodies!  Please order on SchoolCashOnline, where you will select your child's preferences for size and style (the colour will be black). Sample sizes are available outside of the office. If you have any problems or concerns, please contact the office (whiteside@sd38.bc.ca).  Orders are due September 30^th.  No late orders.

 

 

Whiteside Fundraising

After a summer of collecting empty cans and bottles, you can help raise money for Whiteside. 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.

 

Student Package of Forms:

All forms were sent home this week.  The forms -- excluding the verification form (blue) -- are also on the school website in case you need to translate them.  Please return the completed forms to your teacher by Thursday, September 19^th and pay the school fees on SchoolCashOnline by Friday, September 27th. 

 

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 20^th. Whiteside will also be closed in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Monday, September 30^th. Our Orange Shirt Day assembly will be held on Friday, September 27^th.

  

Richmond School District Student Accounts

Over the next week, our school district will send an email with your child’s login name for our 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. This is NOT an account for the MyED parent portal. 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.

 

West Coast Recess:

During recess and lunchtime breaks, students are expected to always be outside 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! 

 

DISTRICT INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Digital Devices in Schools

In January 2024, the Ministry of Education and Child Care mandated all school boards in British Columbia to update their Codes of Conduct to include restrictions on students’ personal digital device use. 

On June 19, 2024, the Richmond Board of Education passed a motion to update Policy 105: District Code of Conduct effective July 1, 2024. The updated policy will:

• Restrict students’ use of personal digital devices at school, including during instructional time or learning related activities, to promote online safety and a focused learning environment, unless use is permitted by supervising staff. 
• Support the acceptable use of student personal digital devices for accessibility and accommodation needs, medical and health needs, and to support equity of learning outcomes. 

In conjunction with the updates to Policy 105, the district developed Policy 104-G (A): Acceptable Use of Personal Digital Devices. The key components of these administrative guidelines are as follows:

Elementary Schools (K-7):

• Students should not have personal digital devices in their possession during the school day unless permission is granted by the supervising staff for educational purposes. This includes during recess and lunch or while outside on the playground or on school property.
• It is recommended that students do not bring personal digital devices to school.

 

The district values the collaborative partnership among students, parents and staff. Moving forward, schools will engage with their communities to facilitate this transition. Should you have any inquiries or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school principal. 

Resources: 

• Media Smarts – Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy:
  • https://mediasmarts.ca 
• Common Sense – Family Engagement Resources
  • https://www.commonsense.org/education/toolkit/family-engagement-resources
• ERASE – Expect Respect and a Safe Education:
  • https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/erase

 

All About Literacy: Information for Parents and Caregivers

The Ministry of Education and Child Care released a new Ministry resource for parents and caregivers this past summer to support early literacy at home.  

This guide outlines early literacy as what children learn about reading and writing before they can fully read and write. The guide targets suggestions for learners before starting school and in the early grades (kindergarten to Grade 3). This brief guide provides parents and caregivers with: 

• Helpful tips to build a child’s early literacy skills at home.
• An explanation of how teachers support early literacy in school. 
• Steps parents and caregivers can take if they think their child needs extra support. 

 

 

Opt-In to District/School Text Message Communication

The Richmond School District implemented a new communication tool that will enable both the district and our school to send you text messages.  This is being implemented to improve the ability to deliver time-sensitive information to you, including emergency notifications.  Given the significance of this communication tool, we strongly encourage you to opt-in for this service. NEW families will receive a text to opt-in (this is not spam and we recommend you accept).

If you would like to opt-in at any time, you can choose to opt-in by sending a text message to 978338 with the comment ‘Yes’.

 

Student And Family Affordability Fund

The provincial government recently announced a renewal of one-time funds for the Student and Family Affordability Fund. This fund is designed to assist families who require financial assistance with school-related costs in the following areas:

• school and course fees.
• school supplies and course materials.
• field trips.
• school-related extracurricular opportunities. 
• clothing and footwear required for sports and school activities. 

Please reach out to our principal, Brett Cameron, (whiteside@sd38.bc.ca) if you need assistance.  As always, all requests will be treated with dignity and your privacy will be respected. We want to work with our families to ensure that our students, your children, have everything they need to be successful at school. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can help.

 

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 currently provide breakfast and lunch options for students daily. 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.

 

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Restorative Justice

What is restorative practice?

Restorative practice is a way of working with conflict that puts the focus on repairing the harm that has been done. It is an approach to conflict resolution that includes all parties involved. Restorative practice (sometimes referred to as restorative justice) is often an approach to conflict resolution that we use at school. We will share more information about restorative practice in future newsletters.

 

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.

 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EVENTS:

YMCA Fall Generation Health Program - A Free Healthy Lifestyle Program

Generation Health is a FREE 10-week healthy lifestyle program for children and their families, delivered through YMCA BC and in partnership with the Childhood Healthy Living Foundation. Program participants will meet virtually or in-person to learn about healthy eating, physical activity, goal setting, body image, self-esteem and more!  

 

There are four program days to choose from: starting in October, Tuesdays in-person at the Tong Louie YMCA from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays virtually from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This program requires prior registration through these details: phone 1-888-650-3141 or send an e-mail to generationhealth@bc.ymca.ca (link).

 

Families who join this program receive a complimentary membership to the YMCA. 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 ~Whiteside Elementary