Happy Haunts, Whiteside Wolves!

 

Diwali begins next week! We wish you a joyous Diwali filled with light, love, and prosperity! ✨ May the festival of lights bring happiness and good fortune to your family. 🪔

 

We are really excited about our upcoming PAC Halloween Party and Dance. The Munch-a-Lunch orders will remain open for this great event until Friday night.

 

Thank you for your time and thoughtful conversations at our learning conferences this week. Learning conferences are a wonderful opportunity for us to work together to support your child's success. Thank you for your active participation and insightful contributions.

 

We acknowledge and thank the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group on whose traditional and unceded territories we teach, learn and live, and upon where the Musqueam people continue their traditions and cultural education.

 

Coming Events:

Oct. 29             PAC Halloween Party from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1              Hot lunch (pizza)

Nov. 8              Remembrance Day assembly at 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 11             Remembrance Day (school closed)

Nov. 14             TCO2 for Gr. 4-7

Nov. 15             Hot lunch (Sushi Lovers)

Nov. 25             Pro-D (school closed)

Nov. 29             Hot lunch (pizza)

Dec. 13             Hot lunch (White Spot)

 

 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Halloween at Whiteside

Whiteside will host a Halloween parade and dance on Tuesday, October 31^st. Mr. McCuaig’s class will also host a school-appropriate haunted house. We look forward to joining in the Halloween excitement next week.

 

“Trick or Treat” Others with Respect.

Halloween should and needs to be fun; however, we need to be aware that celebrating Halloween needs to be fun for all.  Halloween offers an opportunity to have meaningful conversations about costume choices with colleagues and students and requires consideration.  It is important to keep in mind that we need to be sensitive to groups that have been marginalized through mimicry and cultural appropriation during Halloween and other ‘dress up’ events.  A few things to keep in mind:

 

It’s good to keep in mind that the following are NOT Costumes:

RACE (black face/brown face)

CULTURE (Indigenous regalia/dreadlocks)

RELIGIOUS FAITH (religious figures/gods/saints/gurus/hijab)

GENDER (gender switching for humour or to mock)

TRAUMA (hangman’s noose/weapons)

 

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, drive-thru lane, or in staff parking areas. This can block traffic flow and create 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!

 

PAC Halloween Party!

Our amazing PAC is planning their annual Halloween party and dance. Our gym will transform into a spoooky party at 5:30 p.m. with games, treats, a costume contest, and more family fun. At 6:30 p.m., we will clear the floor for a haunted dance party until 7:30 p.m.

We are looking for high school volunteers to help run our games and stations. Please email whitesidepac@hotmail.com if you have a high school aged child that would like to earn some volunteer hours. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

 

Hot Lunch

Our amazing PAC has two great hot lunches coming up. Next Friday is pizza day! Hot lunch on November 15 will be Sushi Lovers!

 

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 future PAC meetings. Our October PAC meeting will be at our school library. Childminding will be provided. Our next PAC meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19.

 

DARE:

Students in grades 5 and 6 are now participating in the DARE program with the Richmond RCMP. The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program equips students with the knowledge and skills to make safe and responsible choices, helping them avoid involvement with drugs, alcohol, and risky behaviors. Through engaging lessons and discussions, the program empowers children to build confidence and make positive decisions that will benefit them throughout their lives.

 

Whiteside Fundraising

After a summer of collecting empty cans and bottles, you can help raise money for Whiteside. 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.

 

West Coast Recess:

During recess and lunchtime breaks, students are expected to always be outside this year.  Students are reminded 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.

 

 

DISTRICT INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Parent Education Sessions - 2024/25 School Year

The Richmond School District is excited to offer a variety of parent education sessions during the 2024/25 school year. These virtual sessions are open to all parents in the Richmond School District and will provide practical strategies, expert insights, and tools to support your child’s well-being in the digital age. More information and registration for parents is available on the district website. Our first session is November 13, 2024, hosted by Safer Schools Together.

 

Nut Awareness

Nut products can cause severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. To help us maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all students and staff, we ask that you refrain from bringing any items containing nuts to school. While we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, the district is committed to taking reasonable steps to minimize the risk of accidental exposure to life-threatening allergens. 

 

Student And Family Affordability Fund

The provincial government recently announced a renewal of one-time funds for the Student and Family Affordability Fund. This fund is designed to assist families who require financial assistance with school-related costs in the following areas:

• school and course fees.
• school supplies and course materials.
• field trips.
• school-related extracurricular opportunities. 
• clothing and footwear required for sports and school activities. 

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

 

Feeding Futures

Recently, the provincial government announced a new Feeding Futures School Program Fund, designed to assist schools in the development and enhancement of school meal programs and other nutritional supports for students. If you would like to request support for your child at school, please reach out to our principal, Brett Cameron (bcameron@sd38.bc.ca). We currently provide breakfast and lunch options for students daily. All requests will be treated with dignity and your privacy will be respected. We want to work with families to ensure that your children have everything they need to be successful at school. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can help.

 

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Frustrating play is play that's challenging and doesn't always go smoothly. (Dr. Hannah Beach)

Here are some key takeaways for families:

• Play is serious business: Play is how children learn and develop essential skills. It's not just about having fun.
• Frustrating play is important: When kids face challenges and setbacks during play, they develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
• It's okay for play to be hard: Struggling, experimenting, and even failing are all part of the learning process through play.
• Adults should support, not rescue: Instead of jumping in to fix things or make play easy, adults should provide space and encouragement for kids to work through challenges independently.
• Observe and listen: Pay attention to how your child plays and what frustrates them. This can give you valuable insights into their development and how to best support them.
• Embrace the mess and the noise: Play can be messy and loud! Try to embrace the chaos and allow kids the freedom to explore and experiment.

(https://hannahbeach.ca/frustrating-play/)

 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EVENTS:

City Of Richmond Halloween Activities

Over 20 spook-tacular Halloween-inspired events and activities are now on through Tuesday, October 31 with the fang-tastic Halloween Fireworks Festival in Minoru Park on Halloween night. All the details about this year’s 20+ events can be found at richmond.ca/halloween.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 ~Whiteside Elementary