Happy Thanksgiving Whiteside,

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we're filled with gratitude for our Whiteside community! Your support—whether you're volunteering, attending school events, or simply encouraging your child's learning at home—makes a big difference in the success of all our Wolfpack. We are thankful for everything you do to make our school a warm and welcoming place.

Please remember: Whiteside will be closed on Monday, October 13 for Thanksgiving.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy long weekend, filled with joy, laughter, and delicious food!

~ 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:

October 13 – Thanksgiving (school closed)

October 20 – ShakeOut BC at 10:30 a.m.

October 21 – PAC meeting at 7:45 p.m. online

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

October 23 – PAC Halloween Party

October 24 – Provincial Pro-D (school closed)

October 27-31 – School wide dance classes/finale

October 29 – Cross Country Fun Run at Garry Point

November 3 – Photo retake day

November 7 – McRoberts band performance

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

Hot Lunch – Subway – October 31

Our next hot lunch will be spooooky subs on Subway Day on October 31. Please see the attached flyer for more information and place your orders until October 24 at Munch-A-Lunch.

Wolf Wear Wednesdays

To show our school spirit, we invite our students, staff and community to wear their favourite Wolf gear every Wednesday! This Wednesday, October 15, we also encourage our Wolfpack to wear Blue Jays gear to support our baseball team!

A Message from the Library – Plants and Yarn!

The Library Learning Commons is currently looking to add some greenery to our space! If you have any healthy plants you're looking to rehome, we’d be happy to give them a new life here.

We’re also seeking donations of yarn for upcoming craft activities. Any type or amount is appreciated!

Thank you for your support!

— Ms. T and Ms. K

Run Club!

Mme David-Harel, Mme Swordy, and Mme Lai brought back run club. All students are welcome. Please meet in the gym at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Our Cross-Country Fun Run at Garry Point is scheduled for October 29^th.

Whiteside Reading Intervention Program

Whiteside teachers and staff are embarking on a new journey in our school’s focus on developing strong literacy skills. Our school's primary reading intervention program is a core component of our focus on building early literacy skills for all students. Using data from the Acadience Reading screener and district assessments, we strategically integrate children between primary classes to create flexible, small groups that specifically address their individual strengths and needs. This targeted approach allows resource and classroom teachers to collaboratively deliver high-impact instruction. The goal is to ensure all students receive precise support to accelerate their reading development.

Volleyball Season

Our Wolves have started to bump, set, and spike in our gym. Mr. McCuaig, Mme Jien and our intermediate students started our new volleyball season this week. We look forward to seeing you at our home games soon! Go Wolfpack!

October 29 – vs. Bridge at Whiteside

November 5 - @ Bridge

November 18 - @ Lee

November 26 – vs Lee at Whiteside

Learning Buddies Network at Whiteside

Whiteside is happy to welcome back the Learning Buddies Network, an engaging after-school program for our students. It pairs local high school and college volunteers with a small group of younger children to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills in a fun, one-on-one setting. This partnership is a fantastic way to boost academic confidence and foster positive mentorship right here in our community.

Parent and Family Visitors

We understand that sometimes things (lunches, snacks, boots, instruments, etc.) are left at home and need to be dropped off. We are happy to connect our students with you and their items at the office. Please refrain from visiting your children on the playground at recess and lunch. Our supervisors need to be able to keep our kids safe and be mindful of unknown adults around our Wolfpack.

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 parking spaces only: Do not park in the fire lane or drive-thru lane, as this blocks traffic flow and creates 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!

FSAs for Grade 4 and 7:

In October, students in grades 4 and 7 will complete the Foundation Skills Assessment. The Foundational Skills Assessments (FSAs) help us understand your child's progress in key areas like reading, writing, and math, providing insight into their learning. These assessments allow both teachers and parents to identify strengths and areas where additional support may be needed, ensuring each student reaches their full potential. This assessment is one of many that provides information about student learning at Whiteside and throughout the province.

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.

Student Drop Off and Pick Up

We appreciate parents dropping off and picking up students only at their exterior doors. The front of the school and our hallways are busy places before and after school as teachers and staff work diligently to prepare their teaching. Please be respectful of these spaces and times. We are happy to assist you should you need to meet with a teacher. To meet a teacher, please visit the main office and we will connect with the teacher for you (or greet at your exit door).

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.

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Gratitude boosts social-emotional well-being, strengthens relationships, builds empathy, and improves resilience. Try this at home:

The Daily Gratitude Plate 🍽️

Make it a family habit to share gratitude at meal time using a designated "Gratitude Plate." Each person takes a turn saying one thing they are genuinely thankful for that day before the meal begins. This practice encourages children to actively notice and voice the positive moments, building their awareness and appreciation for the people and good things in their daily lives. By making it a consistent ritual, the whole family develops a shared appreciation for one another.

~Whiteside Elementary