Happy Vaisakhi!

  

As Vaisakhi arrives, Whiteside extends our warmest wishes to you and your family for a joyful and prosperous celebration!

 

Vaisakhi is a time of renewal, hope, and community spirit, marking the spring harvest and the birth of the Khalsa. It reminds us of the importance of togetherness, kindness, and looking forward to new beginnings.

 

Just as the spring season brings new growth and opportunities, we cherish the growth and development of your children within our school community. We are grateful for your partnership in nurturing their learning journey.

 

May this Vaisakhi bring you happiness, peace, and abundant blessings. We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones.

 

Thank you for all your care and support. You make Whiteside a special community to learn, teach, and play.

 

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:

April 14-28, 30  Pickleball classes begin

April 15            Class photos

April 15             PAC meeting at 7 p.m. online

April 16            French movie night with CPF at 5:30 p.m. – all welcome

April 18            Good Friday (school closed)

April 21            Easter Monday (school closed)

April 27            2.5 Mini Sun Run (Vancouver)

April 29            BC Lions presentation

April 29            Term 2 report cards posted on MyEd

May 7               Gr. 7 and jazz band performance at Gateway (evening)

May 16             Non-Instructional Day (school closed)

May 19             Victoria Day (school closed)

May 21             Welcome to Kindergarten

May 26             Track Meet at Minoru

June 6              Sports Day

June 20             Gr. 7 Farewell assembly

June 26             Last day of school

June 26             Final report cards posted on MyEd

 

 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Smile - Class Photo Day

April 15 is class photo day. Our photographers will be on site to take group, class, and school photos in the morning.

 

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, April 15 online at 7:00 p.m.

 

Wolfpack Pickleball

Coach Nash from Tennis XL is joining Whiteside from April 14 – 25 to teach our Wolves tennis and pickleball skills. We welcome him and are excited for the opportunity to learn a new sport!

 

Lockdown Drill

This week we had a lockdown drill at Whiteside. A lockdown drill is like a practice for when we need to be extra safe inside the school building. It helps us learn what to do quickly if there's ever something that might be dangerous inside, so we can stay safe and sound with our teachers and friends. It's like practicing a fire drill, but instead of going outside, we learn how to stay safe inside.

 

Hot Lunch

Our next hot lunch day is coming on April 25^th.  Please remember to order on Munch-a-Lunch.

 

Movie Night - National Canadian Film Day - April 16, 2025

Movie: Katak: Le Brave Béluga (Katak: The Brave Beluga)
*movie will be played in French with English subtitles*
When: Wednesday April 16, 2025 for National Canadian Film Day
Where:  École Élémentaire James Whiteside Elementary School gym  (9282 Williams Road, Richmond BC )
Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm, movie starts at 6:00 pm
Who:  All ages (children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult)
Admission: free 

Register here to guarantee admission as we anticipate this will be a popular after school event.

Pre-Order Special Pricing:

$5 Pizza Combo (1 pizza slice, 1 bag of chips, 1 drink) 

$3 per pizza slice

Additional pizza slices & snacks will be available for purchase on site. 

CPF (Canadian Parents for French) membership is now FREE (To sign up go to: https://cpf.ca/en/join-cpf/)

 

Pickleball After School Camp

Coach Nash, from Tennis XL, visit Whiteside next week to provide in-school pickleball lessons to our Wolves. Tennis XL Agency Inc is a leading provider of children's in-school and after- school programs and we are EXCITED to be at your school  to teach our Pickleball Program. This year, we are offering our PICKLEBALL AFTER-SCHOOL Camp for 10 days.   We will embark on an adventure with our camp using all the skills we learn in the In-School Program. 

Registration Form:  Please click on this link 

Camp Dates:

April 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30

Time/ Location:

3:00-4:00/ Whiteside Gymnasium

Cost: $165.00 and includes all equipment required.  Purchasing a Pickle paddle is an option but not a requirement. See what others are thinking about our program.  We look forward to having a BLAST on the courts this month. 

 

Early French Immersion Information Video

Recently, our school district posted information for inquiring parents about the Early French Immersion program in Richmond https://sd38.bc.ca/programs/elementary-programs/french-immersion. Their information also includes highlights and information from Whiteside. If you have curious friends or families, please share this link for more information about this program.

 

Strategic Plan Open Houses in April 2025

The Richmond School District is hosting a series of open houses in April to engage parents and caregivers in the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan process. These sessions will provide an opportunity to learn more about the plan, ask questions, and share feedback that will help shape the district’s priorities for the next five years.

 Upcoming Open Houses

• April 14, 2025  |  6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Palmer Secondary

• April 15, 2025  |  6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Burnett Secondary

• April 24, 2025  |  6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Cambie Secondary

• April 28, 2025  |  6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Online session (Click here to register)

For more details and ongoing updates on the strategic planning process, please visit sd38.bc.ca/strategicplan.

Grade 7 Farewell Planning

Grade 7 parents have met to discuss and begin planning our grade 7 farewell celebration. If you are interested in joining the planning team, we would love your ideas and support. Please email our principal, Brett Cameron, at bcameron@sd38.bc.ca if you can join our team.

 

Run Club Updates! 

Come join us and practice Mondays and Thursdays at 8:10 am.  We will meet in the gym, do some stretching and then run some laps inside OR outside (weather permitting).  

Our SunRun team is complete. Thank you all for joining.

Let’s go Wolves! 

 

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!

 

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

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…

Here are three quick tips to encourage children to write at home:

1. Make writing fun and relevant: Instead of traditional assignments, encourage kids to write about things they love. This could include creating their own comic strips, writing stories about their favorite toys, or even making a menu for a pretend restaurant.

2. Provide a variety of writing materials: Offer different types of paper, colorful pens, markers, and even technology like tablets or computers. Let them choose what they want to use, making the experience more engaging and exciting.

3. Be a writing role model: Children are more likely to write if they see their parents writing too. Parents can write notes, make grocery lists, or keep a journal, showing kids that writing is a useful and enjoyable part of everyday life.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

~Whiteside Elementary