Hi Whiteside families

 

What a whirlwind of a week! A huge thank you to our amazing parents, caregivers, and families for being such an integral part of our school community. We truly appreciate you sharing in your children's learning journey, whether it's on the basketball court, in the dance studio, or exploring our city on a class field trip.

 

Shout outs to everyone who joined us for McRoberts parent night, cheered on our students at the basketball games, and were mesmerized by their incredible performances in "Spaced Out" and alongside the talented artists from Metaphor. Your presence and support mean the world to us!

 

Speaking of support, a big thank you to our PAC for our first in-person meeting. Those special days are always a highlight!

 

It's fantastic to see our students so engaged in their learning. We encourage you to continue those conversations at home. Take a few moments each day to chat with your child about what they're exploring at school – your interest makes a big difference!

 

We hope to see you all at our upcoming literacy event on Tuesday afternoon. Stay tuned for more details!

 

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:

Jan. 27              Pro-D day (school closed)

Jan. 28              Girls’ basketball game at Bridge

Jan. 30              Boys’ basketball game at Bridge

Jan. 31              Spirit Day: Sports Day (wear jersey or sports gear)

Jan. 31              Hot lunch (Yummy Slice)

Feb. 5               Family Literacy Night at 4 p.m.

Feb. 7               Hot lunch

Feb. 13             Spirit Day - Red, pink or white day

Feb. 14             Pro-D day (school closed)

Feb. 17             Family Day

Feb. 25             Hannah Beach virtual parent session

Feb. 26             Early dismissal for learning conferences

Feb. 26             Pink Shirt Day

Mar. 14            Whiteside’s St. Patrick’s Day – wear green

Mar. 14            Last day before spring break

Mar. 31            First day back from spring break

April 18            Good Friday (school closed)

April 21            Easter Monday (school closed)

April 29             Term 2 report cards posted on MyEd

May 16             Pro-D day (school closed)

May 19             Victoria Day (school closed)

June 19             Gr. 7 Farewell assembly

June 26             Last day of school

June 26             Final report cards posted on MyEd

 

 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Student and School Safety

To ensure the safety of our students and our school, please check in at the office when picking up your child early or late from school. We will then call the classroom for your child to meet you in the front foyer.

 

Hot Lunch – January 31 and February 7

Please see the attachment for our next two hot lunches.

 

Whiteside Basketball

Our Whiteside basketball season has started. Our coaches this year are Mme Howells and Mr. McCuaig. We also host intramurals 3 v 3 basketball for grade 5/6 students. Our game schedule is attached to our weekly email. Our first games are at Bridge on Tuesday (G) and Thursday (B).

 

Family Literacy Night

To recognize and celebrate Family Literacy Week Whiteside invites our families to visit for a fun night of reading activities. Please join us from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5^th. Enter through the gym to get your activity card and begin your literacy adventure.

 

Spring Fair Team Volunteers Needed

Our PAC is looking for 6 volunteers to lead our Spring Fair team this year. We need 6 keen parents or family members that can help organize and lead our 2025 Spring Fair. If you are interested in helping plan this year’s fair, please email our PAC (whitesidepac@hotmail.com).

 

Black History Month

Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. The 2025 theme for Black History Month is: Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html

 

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 next PAC meeting will be on Tuesday, February 18 online at 6:30 p.m.

 

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 visitor 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!

 

Kindergarten Registration

Richmond School District 38 is excited to welcome kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2020, turning 5 in 2025. These children will begin kindergarten in September 2024. Online registration opens on November 1, 2024. 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.

 

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 | School District No. 38 (Richmond)

The Richmond School District is excited to offer the following parent education sessions during the 2024/25 school year:

Social Media Awareness, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying

• Feb. 25th:  Reclaiming Play: Revitalizing Childhood to Combat Anxiety and Aggression (Hannah Beach)
• Apr. 8th: Cybersafe from Exploitation (Exploitation Education Institute)

https://sd38.bc.ca/news/2024-10-16/parent-education-sessions

 

MDI

The middle years development instrument (mdi) is coming to your school in January/mid-March!

The Richmond School District has partnered with the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of British Columbia to measure and promote children’s social and emotional development, health, well-being, and assets through the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI). The Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) is a self-report questionnaire that asks children in middle childhood about their thoughts, feelings and experiences. The MDI is the first survey of its kind to gather information about the lives of children both in school, in the home and in the community, from their own perspective. The survey questions align with the BC Ministry of Education’s K-12 curriculum, which includes a focus on promoting children’s personal and social competencies.

Grade 5 and 8 students are invited to complete the MDI during class time between:

January 14th and March 14th, 2025.

For more information and to view the questionnaires: https://earlylearning.ubc.ca/monitoring-system/mdi/mdi-overview/

Parent FAQs: https://earlylearning.ubc.ca/monitoring-system/mdi/parent-caregiver-info/

If you don’t want your child to participate, please contact your child’s teacher, fill out the withdrawal form at the end of the parent/guardian informed passive consent letter, or contact the MDI project staff at mdi@help.ubc.ca.

 

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

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

The provincial government continues to fund the 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…

Family Literacy Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the importance of reading and learning together as a family! It's a chance to create fun, engaging experiences that foster a love of literacy in children and strengthen family bonds.

Here are a few simple activities parents can do at home:

• Cozy Reading Nook: Designate a special spot for reading together. Grab some blankets, pillows, and flashlights to make it extra cozy!
• Storytelling Extravaganza: Take turns making up stories! Start with a sentence like, "Once upon a time, there was a talking cat..." and let each family member add a sentence to build a hilarious tale.
• Recipe Readers: Choose a favorite recipe and have your child help you read it aloud as you cook together. This is a great way to practice reading skills while creating something delicious!
• Book-to-Movie Marathon: Read a book together and then watch the movie adaptation. Discuss the similarities and differences – this helps with comprehension and critical thinking.
• Family Book Club: Pick a book everyone can enjoy and set aside time each day to read a chapter or two. Then, have a family discussion about the characters, plot, and your favorite parts.

These activities promote literacy, create lasting memories and strengthen the connection between parents and children. Happy reading!

 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EVENTS:

 

 

~Whiteside Elementary