Hi Whiteside families!

 

September is always an exciting time for our community. It has been an amazing first week of the school year at Whiteside. Thank you for your kind welcomes. Ms. Navin and I look forward to getting to know our community better.

 

A very special welcome goes out to students and families attending Whiteside for the first time. This year our newsletter will be emailed out to all parents weekly, and it will be sent to the email address(es) that we have on file when your child was registered. There may be times when you are emailed from the school in between those times if important school or district information needs to be sent out in a timely manner so, please continue to monitor your email. Also, please ensure that your email address is up to date with the school office.

 

Thank you to everyone for your patience this week as our school team thoughtfully placed all of our students into their current classrooms.  We are often asked how decisions are made regarding the organization of classes. During the first week we wait until we get an accurate count of all students and then depending on the number of classes that are granted to our school by the district, we then place students into classes. We consider each child's placement carefully based on the following criteria: academic, social and emotional development, learning styles and strengths of students, integration of students with special needs, degree of independence in student work habits, students who do/do not work well together, and maintaining appropriate class size and composition. We moved into our classes this morning and enjoyed settling into our new rooms with our new teachers.

 

STUDENT PACKAGE OF FORMS:

Next week, we will send home a package of permission forms and information forms to be filled out and returned to your child’s teacher.  It is important that we have up-to-date information, including contact numbers and appropriate medical information. During the year if anything changes, please let Ms. Huh know in the office as soon as possible.

 

PARKING LOT SAFETY

Please help keep our students safe by using the drop off zone for picking up and dropping off students only.  Please do not leave your car unattended in the drop off zone; if you need to come into the school, please park in a designated parking space.  When walking to school, please use the designated paths south and adjacent to the driveway as you enter the school grounds. Please follow arrows to keep our students safe and keep our parking lot accident free.

 

Please remember the east parking lot is for school and construction staff only. Please do not park or drop off children in this area.

 

“IN” DAYS AND “OUT” DAYS:

During recess and lunchtime breaks, students are expected to be outside at all times 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.

 

TERRY FOX RUN

Whiteside is celebrating this year’s Terry Fox School Run and your help is needed. This Thanksgiving, as you connect with family and friends, you too can share Terry’s message of hope. Please share and donate to our school’s fundraising efforts at: https://schools.terryfox.ca/11926. Thank you!

 

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!

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Coming Soon:

 

Sept. 22           Meet the Staff

Sept. 23           Pro-D day – school closed

Sept. 29           Orange Shirt Day assembly

Sept. 30            National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Oct. 10              Thanksgiving Day (School Closed)

Oct. 14              Individual photos

Oct. 21            Pro-D Day (school closed)

Nov. 8/9          Learning Conferences (1:45 p.m. dismissal)

Nov. 10            Remembrance Day Assembly

Nov. 11             Remembrance Day

Nov. 21            Pro-D Day (school closed)

 

Have a great weekend!

 

~Whiteside Elementary