Happy Holidays! Joyeuses Fêtes!

As we wrap up an incredible year, we want to thank you for the joy, laughter, and kindness you’ve brought to our school this season.

This week was truly magical! Our students shone in "You’ve Got Mail" showcasing their amazing talents with beautiful songs and costumes. A huge thank you to Ms. LB, Ms. Johnson, our student leaders, and all the performers for making it unforgettable.

The festive fun continued with treats, skating at Winter Wonderland, report cards, and a cozy PJ day. What a week!

Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or simply enjoying time with loved ones, we hope your holiday season is filled with peace and happiness. Wishing you a restful winter break and a wonderful start to the new year!

Warmly,

Have a wonderful weekend!

~ 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.

Wolf Pack Student Corner:

The Band Concert – Fabiola, Stella from Div.6

Last week, Whiteside had two band concerts. 

The show choir performed first.  Then it was the grade 5/6 band.  Then the grade 7 and 5/6 band performed.  After was the grade 7 band, then Jazz band.  There were around 73 kids performing.

Fabiola:  I was very nervous at the concert.  I remember some flaws. Like when we were playing “We Got the Spirit”.  We were stopped which, for some people, it was embarrassing.

Stella:  I like playing instruments.  I like to play in front of people – but not by myself.  The concert was a great opportunity!

Coming Events at Whiteside:

January 5 – Whiteside re-opens

January 5 – Confi-DANCE program begins

January 13 – TCO2: Children of the Streets parent presentation (online at 6:00 p.m.)

January 20 – PAC Meeting online at 7:45 p.m.

January 21 – Universal Hot Lunch (Butter Chicken)

January 29 – Gr. 7 parent night at McRoberts

January 29 – Family Literacy Night

January 30 – Grade 7 snowshoeing field trip

February 4 – Kind Mind Dance

February 13 – Pro-D Day

February 15 – Family Day (school closed)

February 23/24 – Festival Franco

February 25 – Pink Shirt Day

February 25 – Early dismissal at 11:50 a.m.

March 3/4 - McRoberts Basketball Jamboree

March 13 – Talent Show

March 13 – Last day before spring break

March 30 – First day back after spring break

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Winter Holidays

To celebrate the winter holidays, Whiteside will be closed from December 20^th – January 4^th. We will reopen for a new season of learning on Monday, 5^th.

Reporting Student Learning

Our report cards this term were posted on the MyEdBC parent portal on Thursday, December 18^th. We encourage our parent community to log on and review your child’s fall report card. Core Competency reflections were sent home earlier this month. We hope you and your children enjoy a conversation about their learning together.

Universal Hot Lunch Pilot

Utilizing Feeding Futures as well as National School Food Program funding, the Richmond School District will be piloting a universal hot lunch program at selected elementary and secondary schools during the months of December and January. Our first lunch was provided on Wednesday to all students that registered on Munch-a-Lunch. Our next Universal Hot Lunch will be January 21, 2026.

Orders for our January Universal Hot Lunch are open until January 15 at Munch-a-Lunch.

Late French Immersion Applications (Grade 5)

The Richmond School District offers the Late French Immersion program beginning in Grade 6 at James Whiteside and John Diefenbaker Elementary Schools.

Application Information:

The applications for admission to Late Immersion program is open until January 16^th, 2025 for the 2025/2026 school year. To apply please complete the District Options Online Application: https://dpoapplication.sd38.bc.ca

The application does not constitute registration.

Keeping Kids Safe Online: Parent Presentation – January 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

Save the date! Keeping Kids Safe Online is a 60 minute interactive workshop designed to help parents, caregivers, and service providers understand how to help children stay safe online. This presentation covers three topics: Online Exploitation – overview, App Literacy – learning how to safely navigate today’s most popular apps, and How to Talk About It – how to have difficult conversations with your children.

A meeting link for this presentation will be provided in January.

Mini Sun Run 2026!

Last year, Whiteside had a group of students and parents enter the SunRype Youth Team Mini Sun Run 2.5 km Challenge at the Vancouver Sun Run.  It was an exhilarating time for all of us, and we are now looking to our next challenge!  We are hoping to participate in the 2026 Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, April 19^th in Vancouver.  We invite you to join our Whiteside Wolves Team and do the 2.5 km or 10 km Youth Team Challenge.

Friends and family can also join the fun!

Team Name: Whiteside Wolves

Team Access Code: PRPGFA

Link to JOIN OUR YOUTH TEAM: team member registration.  Enter the “Youth Team Challenge – 10 km or Mini Sun Run 2.5 km”.

On that day, students will need to be accompanied by an adult.  If your child enters the Mini Sun Run, entry includes one adult escort. If your child enters the 10 km Youth Team Challenge, they will need to be running with an adult family member.  Both child and adult will need to register individually.   

Run club will start training for the Sun Run in February 2026, but students do not have to be a part of our Whiteside Run Club to participate in the run.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email slai@sd38.bc.ca.

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, January 20.

Wolf Wear Wednesdays

To show our school spirit, we invite our students, staff and community to wear their favourite Wolf gear every Wednesday

Kindergarten Registration

Richmond School District 38 is excited to welcome kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2021, turning 5 in 2026. These children will begin kindergarten in September 2026. Online registration opened on November 1, 2025. 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.

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…

Richmond Holiday Celebrations

There are so many ways to experience the holidays in our community. We hope that your families and friends can experience the joy that coming together as a community can provide:

• Steveston Festival of Trees - The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is transformed into a winter wonderland with unique trees decorated by local community members. The 2025 theme is "Holiday Touchstones," celebrating objects that hold diverse holiday stories and memories.
• Richmond Chanukah Celebration - A public menorah lighting and celebration at the Richmond Public Library and Minoru Rink, featuring games, music, and activities for families.
• Winter Solstice Market - A market at the Vancouver Convention center (accessible by Canada Line) hosted by the Tatus Creative Society featuring unique, hand-made art from talented Indigenous makers, honouring diverse cultures and traditions.
• Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum (Burnaby) - A 1920s-themed village adorned with lights, featuring multicultural displays, carolers, and diverse holiday traditions.
• Winter Indigenous Artisans Market (Vancouver) - Held at the Bill Reid Gallery, this market features handcrafted goods from Indigenous artists, celebrating community and creativity.
• VanDusen Festival of Lights (Vancouver) - A classic holiday light display that includes themed areas and often features diverse cultural music and food vendors.

~Whiteside Elementary