Hello Whiteside Families,

It has been an absolutely fantastic start to the new school year! Our hallways and classrooms are filled with the joy and excitement of students reconnecting with friends and settling into their new learning routines. It has been wonderful to welcome back our returning families and see so many new faces join our amazing community.

Thank you for your generous contributions to the Terry Fox Foundation! Because of your support we doubled our goal and raised over $2000! Wow! This event was a very special way to bring our community together for a good cause and have some fun.

Here are a few important updates and upcoming events to mark on your calendar:

Upcoming Events

• Meet the Staff Night: Please join us from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25th. This is a wonderful, informal opportunity to meet your child's teacher and see their classroom. We can't wait to connect with you all!
• Professional Development Day: Please note that there will be no school for students on Monday, September 22^nd, as it is a professional development day for staff.

Thank you for all your kindness and support as we've launched into this new year. Your partnership is so important, and we are looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth for your children.

~ Whiteside Elementary

The Richmond Board of Education acknowledges and thanks the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group on whose traditional and unceded territories we teach, learn and live.

Coming Events:

Sept. 15-24 – HUB Cycling for div. 1-6

Sept. 22 – Non-Instructional Day (school closed)

Sept. 25 – Meet the Teacher Night from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Sept. 29 – Orange Shirt Day Assembly

Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (school closed)

Oct. 8 – Individual photos

Oct. 13 – Thanksgiving (school closed)

Oct. 22 – Early Dismissal (students dismissed at 11:50)

Oct. 24 – Provincial Pro-D (school closed)

Oct. 27-31 – School wide dance classes 

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Thank you for keeping our gardens thriving, Garden Volunteers!

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Whiteside families who took time out of their summer to water and care for our school gardens. Thanks to your dedication, our students returned to a schoolyard full of colour and life. Your care has made a lasting difference, and we are so grateful!

Student Lunches

Lunch time is an important part of our school day. Please help us create a calm, healthy, and positive lunch routine for our Wolfpack.

Providing a prepacked lunch helps maintain a consistent routine, which is so important for your child’s well-being and learning. When lunches are bought and dropped off, or when meals are cooked and brought to school, it can disrupt the flow of our day. These last-minute deliveries not only interrupt staff and students but also cut into valuable learning time.

Moreover, when students are uncertain about when or if their lunch will arrive, it can cause unnecessary anxiety and distraction. A healthy, prepacked lunch ensures that your child can focus on what matters most during the school day—learning and enjoying their time with friends.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. By sending a nutritious lunch with your child each morning, you’re helping us create a more focused, calm, and productive environment for everyone.

Hot Lunch is BACK with Yummy Slice! 🍕

Welcome back, Whiteside families! We hope your summer was packed with fun, sun, and adventire. Now that school’s in full swing, it’s time to bring back one of our all-time favourites – Yummy Slice.

Save the date: Friday, September 26th is your kiddo’s chance to enjoy some irresistible pizza and lasagna goodness! Whether it's the oh-so-cheesy white sauce pizza or the melt-in-your-mouth lasagna, these delicious meals are sure to be a hit.

Ordeering is a breeze – but don’t wait! All orders must be placed and paid for by Friday, September 19^th. Get ahead of the game and make sure your child doesn’t miss out on this tasty treat.

👉 New parents, register here: https://munchalunch.com/schools/JamesWhiteside

👉 Returning parents, login here: https://munchalunch.com/login

Wanna lend a hand? Join the Hot Lunch squad! ​ Sign up to volunteer during the ordering process or email jameswhitehotlunch@gmail.com. ​ Wait for a confirmation email before coming to the school. ​ Thank you for your support in making this program a success!

Wolf Wear Spirit Store Open Now

Show your Wolfpack pride with our brand new Whiteside Wolves spirit wear! Our online store is now open, offering a fantastic selection of hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and more for students and families. Visit our shop at https://urstore.ca/group/whiteside-wolves_531344 to check out all the great gear and place your order today!

Terry Fox Run

This year, Whiteside “ran across Canada” to recognize and celebrate Terry Fox’s achievements. Thank you to Mme Jien and her class for organizing and leading our run. Thank you to our PAC for providing our healthy, post-run snack. And thank you to Ms. Johnson and Ms. Dineen for their contributions. As a result of our fundraising, Whiteside raised over $1000 and Ms. LB cut her hair this afternoon. Way to go Ms. LB and Whiteside!

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 our next PAC meeting in September. Our first PAC meeting is online at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16.

Our 2025-2026 PAC executive:

Co-Chairpeople – Sandeep Bhullar and Sofia Shivji

Treasurer – Jaylene Sandhar

Secretary – Carrie Viloria

Hot Lunch Coordinator – Karen Au

Social Media and Communications – Chris Ho

Grade 7 Farewell Hoodies!

It's that time of year for our Grade 7's to order their Grade 7 farewell hoodies!  Please order on SchoolCashOnline, where you will select your child's preferences for size and style (the colour will be black). Sample sizes are available outside of the office. If you have any problems or concerns, please contact the office (whiteside@sd38.bc.ca).  Orders are due September 30^th.  No late orders.

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.

School Supplies and Kindergarten Cooking Fees

Our school supply fee will be $35 this year. Our agenda fee will be $7. Our Kindergarten cooking and craft fee will be $22. We will collect these fees in the new school year. Other field trip and special programs may require additional fees to be collected next year as plans are made throughout the school year.

Food Security and School Affordability Support

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

Whiteside Fundraising – Return It

Help raise funds for our school by recycling at home! 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.

DISTRICT INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Become Homestay At The Richmond School District

Be a host for an international student for a month, semester or year. Richmond International Education (RIE) Homestay Program is looking for local families to offer a welcoming home.

Contact us to find out more about this enriching opportunity.

study@sd38.bc.ca or 604-668-6217

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Terry Fox

Our Terry Fox run is coming up soon. Did you know:

• He Carried a Bottle of Pacific Ocean Water with Him. Before starting his run, Terry filled a jug with water from the Pacific Ocean. His plan was to pour that water into the Atlantic Ocean when he completed his journey across Canada, symbolizing the unification of the country in the fight against cancer. While he never got to finish, this small act shows his incredible foresight and the powerful symbolism he embedded in his Marathon of Hope.
• A Fan's Letter Inspired the Name "Marathon of Hope." Terry initially just called his run the "Cross-Canada Run." While he was training, he received a letter from a woman who was also a cancer survivor. She wrote, "Your running is a marathon of hope for all cancer victims." Terry loved the phrase so much that he officially adopted it as the name for his historic journey.

Back to Routines:

Returning to school is a big adjustment for our Wolfpack. There are some small things everyone can do to help rebuild successful school year routines at home:

Talk About the Day and Listen to Their Worries.

Children feel more comfortable when they know what to expect. Take a few minutes each day to preview the schedule and listen to their feelings about it.

• Preview the "What's Next": In the morning, briefly talk about the plan: "Remember, after your morning class, you'll have recess and then lunch."
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: After school, ask specific, open-ended questions like, "What was the most interesting part of your day?" or "Tell me one thing that felt different today." This opens the door for them to share any anxieties they might be feeling about the new routines.

Have a great weekend!

~Whiteside Elementary