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Whiteside Newsletter #18 - January 17, 2025

Hi Whiteside families

 

We're off to a fantastic start in 2025! Our students are buzzing with excitement and diving deep into amazing learning experiences. Basketball season is officially underway, with our teams showing incredible sportsmanship and teamwork (Go Wolfpack!).

 

We were also incredibly fortunate to have the Dancers of Damelahamid visit us, sharing their rich Indigenous culture through captivating stories and dances. This was a truly memorable experience for our students and staff!

 

And the fun doesn't stop there! Get ready for more exciting performances, delicious hot lunches, and enriching field trips in the coming weeks. Run Club is back too ad will start on Monday morning at 8:15 a.m. Run Club will be every Monday and Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. These activities aren't just fun – they provide valuable opportunities for our students to grow, learn, and explore the world around them. Stay tuned for more details and be sure to check our website and newsletter for upcoming events.

 

Here's to a wonderful year of learning and discovery!

 

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:

Jan. 20              Hip Hop 101 performance

Jan. 20              Run Club starts at 8:15 a.m.

Jan. 21              Hannah Beach virtual parent session

Jan. 22              PAC meeting at 6:30 p.m. in our school libraru

Jan. 23              Spaced Out performance

Jan. 23              Grade 7 class visits from McRoberts

Jan. 23              Gr. 7 parent night at McRoberts

Jan. 24              Brrr…Day – dress warmly

Jan. 24              Gr. 7 Snowshoeing trip

Jan. 27              Pro-D day (school closed)

Jan. 31              Spirit Day: Sports Day (jersey or gear)

Jan. 31              Hot lunch

Feb. 5               Family Literacy Night at 4 p.m.

Feb. 7               Hot lunch

Feb. 13             Red, pink or white day

Feb. 14             Pro-D day (school closed)

Feb. 17             Family Day

Feb. 25             Hannah Beach virtual parent session

Feb. 26             Early dismissal for learning conferences

Feb. 26             Pink Shirt Day

Mar. 14            Whiteside’s St. Patrick’s Day – wear green

Mar. 14            Last day before spring break

 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Student and School Safety

To ensure the safety of our students and our school, please check in at the office when picking up your child early or late from school. We will then call the classroom for your child to meet you in the front foyer.

 

Hot Lunch – January 31 and February 7

Please see the attachment for our next two hot lunches.

 

Whiteside Basketball

Our Whiteside basketball season is about to start. Our coaches this year are Mme Howells and Mr. McCuaig. We encourage our grade 6 and 7 students to come out and join the fun. Permission forms were sent home this week and practices have already started. We will also host intramurals 3 v 3 basketball for grade 5/6 students.

 

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 future PAC meetings. Our next PAC meeting will be on Wednesday, January 22 in the library at 6:30 p.m. Childminding will be available for your children.

 

Grade 7 Snowshoeing

Next Friday, our grade sevens are trekking to the top of Grouse Mountain for a day of indigenous learning and snowshoeing. We are excited to provide this opportunity to our most senior members of the Wolfpack. Please ensure that they have appropriate clothing and footwear for this experience. Grade 7 students need to be at school on Friday, January 24 by 8:00 a.m. They will return to Whiteside at approximately 3:45 p.m. (traffic dependent).

 

Family Literacy Night

To recognize and celebrate Family Literacy Week Whiteside invites our families to visit for a fun night of reading activities. Please join us from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th. Enter through the gym to get your activity card and begin your literacy adventure.

 

Parking Lot Safety: A Friendly Reminder

Drop-off and pick-up times can get hectic! Let's work together to keep our parking lot safe for everyone. Please remember these important points:

  • Drive slowly and cautiously: Children can be unpredictable, so always be alert and watch for pedestrians.
  • Use designated visitor parking spaces only: Do not park in the fire lane, drive-thru lane, or in staff parking areas. This can block traffic flow and create hazards.
  • Hold your child's hand: Always supervise young children and hold their hands when walking through the parking lot.
  • Be aware of your surroundings: Look for moving vehicles and be mindful of blind spots when backing up.

Thank you for your cooperation in making our school a safe place for all!

 

Kindergarten Registration

Richmond School District 38 is excited to welcome kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2020, turning 5 in 2025. These children will begin kindergarten in September 2024. Online registration opens on November 1, 2024. Please visit our website  for more information about our online registration process, required documents, important dates, and FAQs.

http://www.sd38.bc.ca/kindergarten 

 

Families are encouraged to register any time during the Priority 1 registration period (November – January) for the best chance at attending their catchment school. All registration applications received any time during the Priority 1 registration period will receive placement decisions by February 2025. 

 

Instead of in person information evenings this year, we have posted short videos that provide our new parents with information about 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 http://www.sd38.bc.ca/kindergarten.

 

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.

 

West Coast Recess:

During recess and lunchtime breaks, students are expected to always be outside this year.  Students are reminded 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.

 

 

DISTRICT INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Parent Education Sessions | School District No. 38 (Richmond)

The Richmond School District is excited to offer the following parent education sessions during the 2024/25 school year:

Social Media Awareness, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying

  • Jan. 21st: Cellphones: What’s Healthy, What’s Not, and What We Can Do to Support Our Kids (Hannah Beach) – 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Feb. 25th:  Reclaiming Play: Revitalizing Childhood to Combat Anxiety and Aggression (Hannah Beach)
  • Apr. 8th: Cybersafe from Exploitation (Exploitation Education Institute)

https://sd38.bc.ca/news/2024-10-16/parent-education-sessions

 

MDI

The middle years development instrument (mdi) is coming to your school in January/mid-March!

The Richmond School District has partnered with the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of British Columbia to measure and promote children’s social and emotional development, health, well-being, and assets through the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI). The Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) is a self-report questionnaire that asks children in middle childhood about their thoughts, feelings and experiences. The MDI is the first survey of its kind to gather information about the lives of children both in school, in the home and in the community, from their own perspective. The survey questions align with the BC Ministry of Education’s K-12 curriculum, which includes a focus on promoting children’s personal and social competencies.

Grade 5 and 8 students are invited to complete the MDI during class time between:

January 14th and March 14th, 2025.

For more information and to view the questionnaires: https://earlylearning.ubc.ca/monitoring-system/mdi/mdi-overview/

Parent FAQs: https://earlylearning.ubc.ca/monitoring-system/mdi/parent-caregiver-info/

If you don’t want your child to participate, please contact your child’s teacher, fill out the withdrawal form at the end of the parent/guardian informed passive consent letter, or contact the MDI project staff at mdi@help.ubc.ca.

 

Nut Awareness

Nut products can cause severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. To help us maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all students and staff, we ask that you refrain from bringing any items containing nuts to school. While we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, the district is committed to taking reasonable steps to minimize the risk of accidental exposure to life-threatening allergens. 

 

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

The provincial government continues to fund the 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…

Our school was recently treated to an unforgettable performance by the Dancers of Damelahamid! This incredible group shared the vibrant traditions of the Northwest Coast First Nations through captivating masks, songs, and dances. Students were mesmerized by the storytelling and artistry, learning about Indigenous culture in a truly immersive way. To learn more about the Dancers of Damelahamid and their amazing work, visit

https://www.damelahamid.ca/

 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EVENTS:

Richmond United Football Club (RUFC) is offering two great programs in 2025! The Coho Soccer Program partners with the Richmond Food Bank to offer free soccer programming and meals to families facing financial difficulties. The Adapted Kicks Program caters to youth with cognitive or physical diversities. Both programs are led by trained coaches and provide a supportive environment for all participants. You can find more information and register for the programs on the RUFC website.

 

~Whiteside Elementary

Attachments

Updated: Friday, January 17, 2025