Hello Whiteside Families,

As always, it was a great week of learning at Whiteside. Our oldest Wolves learned about their bikes and road safety with HUB cycling. Our youngest Wolves are learning about their class’ routines and how to be safe on the playground.

We appreciate all the wonderful conversations that you share with our Whiteside team every day. Thank you to our PAC for a great first meeting of the year. We appreciate how much you support our school.

Here are a few important updates and upcoming events to mark on your calendar:

Upcoming Events

• Professional Development Day: Please note that there will be no school for students on Monday, September 22^nd, as it is a professional development day for staff.
• Meet the Staff Night: Please join us from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25th. This is a wonderful, informal opportunity to meet your child's teacher and see their classroom. We can't wait to connect with you all!

Thank you for all your kindness and support as we've launched into this new year. Your partnership is so important, and we are looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth for your children.

~ Whiteside Elementary

The Richmond Board of Education acknowledges and thanks the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group on whose traditional and unceded territories we teach, learn and live.

Coming Events:

September 15-24 – HUB Cycling for div. 1-6

September 22 – Non-Instructional Day (school closed)

September 25 – Meet the Teacher Night from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

September 26 – Hot Lunch (Yummy Slice)

September 29 – Orange Shirt Day Assembly

September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (school closed)

October 8 – Individual photos

October 10 – Hot lunch

October 13 – Thanksgiving (school closed)

October 21 – PAC meeting at 7:45 p.m.

October 22 – Early Dismissal (students dismissed at 11:50)

October 23 – PAC Halloween Party (evening)

October 24 – Provincial Pro-D (school closed)

October 27-31 – School wide dance classes

November 3 – Photo retake day

November 10 – Remembrance Day assembly

November 11 – Remembrance Day

November 20/21 – PAC family photo nights

December 1 – Pro-D Day

December 10 – Winter band concert

December 16 – Winter musical

December 18 – Term 1 reports published

December 19 – Last day before winter break

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Thank you for keeping our gardens thriving, Garden Volunteers!

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Whiteside families who took time out of their summer to water and care for our school gardens. Thanks to your dedication, our students returned to a schoolyard full of colour and life. Your care has made a lasting difference, and we are so grateful!

Wolf Wear Spirit Store Open Now

Show your Wolfpack pride with our brand new Whiteside Wolves spirit wear! Our online store is now open, offering a fantastic selection of hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and more for students and families. Visit our shop at https://urstore.ca/group/whiteside-wolves_531344 to check out all the great gear and place your order today!

Hot Lunch is BACK with Yummy Slice! 🍕

Welcome back, Whiteside families! We hope your summer was packed with fun, sun, and adventire. Now that school’s in full swing, it’s time to bring back one of our all-time favourites – Yummy Slice.

Save the date: Friday, September 26th is your kiddo’s chance to enjoy some irresistible pizza and lasagna goodness!

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser

Please support our school with the purchase of a delicious treat. Pre-orders go on sale on MunchALunch on Monday, September 22 - October 2nd. Orders will be ready for pick-up at concession on October 10th.

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.

Bike and Scooter Safety

We see a lot of our Wolfpack riding and scooting to school every day. Way to go!

To be safe on the streets and paths, everyone must wear helmets when riding or scooting. Wearing a helmet is the law in B.C., and you could be fined for not wearing one or worse. Also, please do not ride or scoot in our drop off lane. Visit this link for more information about bike safety and see below for information about e-scooters.

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 October. Our next PAC meeting is online at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21.

Food Security and School Affordability Support

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

Whiteside Fundraising – Return It

Help raise funds for our school by recycling at home! 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.

DISTRICT INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Allergy Alert:

All families should be aware that Whiteside School has many students with severe, life-threatening food allergies. Some classrooms may be designated nut free to protect the health of these students. Please help us limit the nut products entering our school overall, as the impact on a student can happen anywhere in the school. If possible, please do not send food to school containing nuts.

Become Homestay At The Richmond School District

Be a host for an international student for a month, semester or year. Richmond International Education (RIE) Homestay Program is looking for local families to offer a welcoming home.

Contact us to find out more about this enriching opportunity.

study@sd38.bc.ca or 604-668-6217

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which was inspired by the real-life story of a residential school Survivor, Phyllis Webstad.

When Phyllis was six years old, she went to a residential school for the first time, proudly wearing a brand new orange shirt given to her by her grandmother. When she arrived, her shirt was taken from her and never returned. The orange shirt now symbolizes the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations, and the message "Every Child Matters" reminds us to honour the children who survived residential schools and remember those who did not.

Back to Routines:

The "Rose, Thorn, and Bud" Check-in

Instead of asking the classic question, "How was school today?" which often gets a one-word answer, try using the "Rose, Thorn, and Bud" method at the dinner table or before bed. It takes less than five minutes and gives you a much clearer picture of your child's school day.

Ask your child these three simple questions:

1. "What was your rose today?" (What was one success, a happy moment, or something that went really well?)
2. "What was your thorn?" (What was one challenge, a tricky problem, or something that was a little difficult?)
3. "What was your bud?" (What is something you're looking forward to, or a new idea you're excited to learn more about?)

This simple habit opens up meaningful conversation, helps you celebrate their successes, understand their struggles, and encourages them to look forward to the next day of learning.

Have a great weekend!

~Whiteside Elementary