Hi Whiteside Families!

 

We celebrated kindness and “lifting each other up” during Pink Shirt Day this week. Our Wolpack enjoyed an assembly with performances by Ms. Wong’s class, Mme. Gagnon’s class, and our show choir. Pink Shirt activities occurred throughout the day including: buddy activities, pink-ifying our construction trailer, and spreading messages of kindness around our school grounds with kindness chalk.

 

Our Wolfpack continue to enjoy skating at Minoru. Thank you to the parent volunteers for tying skates and joining us at the rink.

 

Thank you, PAC, for another delicious hot lunch.

 

Congratulations to Kyah (Div. 3) for winning the Fearless Girl Award! The FGA is a part of the Boyd Social Justice Lift Project, an initiative aimed at lifting up people and groups in our community through acts of equity and kindness. (https://socialjusticevoices.com/about-the-award)

 

Have a wonderful weekend with your family!

 

LEARNING CONFERENCES

Learning Conferences have already started. Whiteside will have two early dismissals at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate more conferences with our families. We look forward to sharing the your child’s successes and learning goals with you soon.

 

GRADE 6/7 CAMP UPDATE:

The deadline for the second payment of $120 has been extended to Sunday, February 19^th.  Please pay online.  If you have any concerns, please contact Ms. Navin at whiteside@sd38.bc.ca.  Also, we’ve inquired about additional WaterSafe dates, and there are no more dates for February.  Starting March, the City is moving to a new system where WaterSafe will be open to all and not booked by individual schools.  When the City sends out the new registration codes in early March, we will forward them.

 

City of Richmond – Community Services Needs Assessment is Underway

Approximately every 5 years the City of Richmond conducts a community-wide study to gather the perspectives of residents on current programs and services delivered in all Community Services areas - parks, recreation, arts, culture, heritage and library. The findings and recommendations that result from this project will inform the planning and delivery of future facilities, programs and services.

Between February 16 to March 12, 2023, the public is invited to share their thoughts on Community Services facilities, programs and services through a 10-minute survey by telephone or online. They may also visit www.LetsTalkRichmond.ca/NeedsAssessment for project details and contact information.

 

SPRING FAIR

Our awesome PAC is welcoming back our Spring Fair on May 25^th. Please save the date! So much work has already begun. If you would like to volunteer, make a donation to our silent auction, or are a vendor that could support our event, please email whiteside@sd38.bc.ca for more information. We look forward to sharing more throughout the spring.

 

GRADE 7 PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our grade 7 parent team is looking for other parents to help plan, prepare, organize, and help with our year end grade 7 celebration. If you are interested in helping us, make this day special for our grade 7s, please email bcameron@sd38.bc.ca. Thank you!

 

BREAKFAST CLUB

Students are welcome to join us in the gym for toast from 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. Play will begin at 8:15 a.m. Students are expected to bring their water bottles and stay in the gym until 8:35 a.m. There will not be early access to classrooms or the playground. We are excited to bring this back for our Wolfpack!

 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support as Whiteside’s BIG reconstruction continues.

 

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 or park in staff parking spots; if you need to come into the school, please park in a parking space closer to South Arm Community Centre.  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.

 

SUMMER LEARNING 2023

Our summer learning catalog is available for viewing. You can view it on our site or the Continuing Education site. More information will come in April.

 

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PARENT SURVEY

Each year the Ministry of Education asks parents, grade 4&7 students, and school staff to complete a learning survey. Please take a little time to visit  

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm

to share your thoughts and ideas. Your opinions will help guide the future of education in BC. 

 

WOLFPACK BASKETBALL

We are enjoying a great season of basketball at Whiteside. We look forward to continuing this success at the Striker’s tournament at McRoberts after spring break. Mr. Pelletier is our girls’ team coach. Mme. Howells and Mr. McCuaig are coaching our Grade 7 boys’ team. Mme. Navin and Mr. Cameron are coaching our Grade 6 boys’ team. Thank you to our coaches and athletes for a great season!

Girls’ team practices are: Monday at lunch and Wednesday after school.

Gr. 7 boys’ team practices are: Tuesday after school and Wednesday at lunch.

Gr. 6 boys’ team practices are: Monday after school and Thursday at lunch.

Our game schedule:

Mar 2^nd – Woodward boys vs Whiteside Gr. 6 boys

 

REAP – Richmond Education Assistant Program

Registration is open for our Full Time REAP 2023

Do you enjoy supporting children and youth with disabilities and diverse abilities? Are you compassionate? Are you a life-long learner? Are you a team player? Are you passionate about inclusive learning communities?

Richmond Education Assistant Program (REAP) is rigorous, intense, and rewarding. It is designed by the Richmond School District to prepare adults who have the passion to work with children and youth with disabilities and diverse abilities as an Education Assistant. Full Time REAP 2023 will start in July 2023 and end in November 2023.For more information please visit www.RichmondCE.ca or phone 604.668.6123 for more information. Registration Closes April 7, 2023

 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Richmond School District 38 is excited to welcome kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2018, turning 5 in 2023. These children will begin kindergarten in September 2023. Online registration is open now. Please visit our website http://www.sd38.bc.ca/kindergarten for more information about our online registration process, required documents, important dates, and FAQs.

 

WEST COAST WEATHER AND OUTSIDE PLAY

• Please remember that all students will be going outside for recess and lunch, except in extreme weather conditions. 
• Physical activity has a positive impact on learning.
• If kids are well prepared to be outside in the rain, they really enjoy it. If they stay dry and warm there is a great deal of fun to be had in all kinds of weather. To be prepared to be outside in the rain it is important for your child to have appropriate clothing such as:
  • A rain jacket
  • Rubber boots
  • Rain pants
  • An umbrella
  • A rain hat or coat with a hood
  • *A change of clothes to be kept at school (sweatpants, underwear, socks, t-shirt, etc.)
  • When students use their change of clothes, please send another set to school for the next time.

 

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!

Coming Soon:

Feb. 28/Mar. 1  Learning conferences

March 9            Talent Show

March 9            Report cards posted     

March 10          Last day before Spring Break

March 27          Whiteside re-opens

April 7              Good Friday – school closed

April 4-6           Striker Gr. 7 Bball tournament

April 10             Easter Monday – school closed

April 24-26        Gr. 6/7 camp

May 17             Welcome to Kindergarten

May 19             Pro-D

May 22             Victoria Day – school closed     

May 23             McRoberts Gr. 7 day

May 25             Spring Fair

June 13             K/1 and 6/7 Immunization

June 16             Sports Day

June 23             Gr 7 Farewell

June 29             Last day for students

 

 

We wish you all a wonderful weekend!

 

~Whiteside Elementary