Happy Haunts, Whiteside Wolves!

Thank you to our PAC for hosting the annual Halloween party and dance. It is a great night filled with games, costume contests, and dancing. We appreciate all the parents that contributed to this fun community event.

We look forward to continuing the Halloween festivities next week with the Jess Dance crew coming to Whiteside to teach our Wolf Pack how to line dance. Each class will practice every day and we will host a final performance on Friday afternoon at 1:45 p.m.

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 hope you have a wonderful weekend!

~ 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:

October 24 – Provincial Pro-D (school closed)

October 27-31 – School wide dance classes/finale at 1:45 p.m. on Friday

October 29 – Cross Country Fun Run at Garry Point at 3:15 p.m.

November 3 – Photo retake day

November 10 – Remembrance Day assembly

November 11 – Remembrance Day

November 20/21 – PAC family photo nights

December 1 – Pro-D Day

December 10 – Winter band concert

December 16 – Winter musical

December 18 – Term 1 reports published

December 19 – Last day before winter break

WHITESIDE INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Hot Lunch – Subway – October 31

Our next hot lunch will be spooooky subs on Subway Day on October 31. Please see the attached flyer for more information and place your orders until October 24 at Munch-A-Lunch.

Halloween at Whiteside

Whiteside will host a Halloween dance finale on Friday, October 31^st at 1:45 p.m. 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)

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 October. Our next PAC meeting is online at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18.

Wolf Wear Wednesdays

To show our school spirit, we invite our students, staff and community to wear their favourite Wolf gear every Wednesday!

Run Club!

Mme David-Harel, Mme Swordy, and Mme Lai brought back run club. All students are welcome. Please meet in the gym at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Our Cross-Country Fun Run at Garry Point is scheduled for October 29^th. Information for the 2026 Mini Sun Run will be coming soon.

Mini Sun Run 2026!

Last year, Whiteside had a group of students and parents enter the SunRype Youth Team Mini Sun Run 2.5 km Challenge at the Vancouver Sun Run.  It was an exhilarating time for all of us, and we are now looking to our next challenge!  We are hoping to participate in the 2026 Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, April 19^th in Vancouver.  We invite you to join our Whiteside Wolves Team and do the 2.5 km or 10 km Youth Team Challenge.

If we register by October 31^st, we will get the lowest registration fee!  

Friends and family can also join the fun!

Team Name: Whiteside Wolves

Team Access Code: PRPGFA

Link to JOIN OUR YOUTH TEAM: team member registration.  Enter the “Youth Team Challenge – 10 km or Mini Sun Run 2.5 km”. 

On that day, students will need to be accompanied by an adult.  If your child enters the Mini Sun Run, entry includes one adult escort. If your child enters the 10 km Youth Team Challenge, they will need to be running with an adult family member.  Both child and adult will need to register individually.   

Run club will start training for the Sun Run in February 2026, but students do not have to be a part of our Whiteside Run Club to participate in the run.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email slai@sd38.bc.ca.

Volleyball Season

Our Wolves have started to bump, set, and spike in our gym. Mr. McCuaig, Mme Jien and our intermediate students started our new volleyball season this week. We look forward to seeing you at our home games soon! Go Wolfpack!

October 29 – vs. Bridge at Whiteside

November 5 - @ Bridge

November 18 - @ Lee

November 26 – vs Lee at Whiteside

Learning Buddies Network at Whiteside

Whiteside is happy to welcome back the Learning Buddies Network, an engaging after-school program for our students. It pairs local high school and college volunteers with a small group of younger children to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills in a fun, one-on-one setting. This partnership is a fantastic way to boost academic confidence and foster positive mentorship right here in our community.

Important Safety Reminder: Visitors on School Grounds

We have noticed an increase in adult visitors on our school grounds, particularly near classrooms and playgrounds. While we love seeing our community enjoy South Arm park, the presence of unknown adults makes it difficult for our students to quickly identify a safe and trusted adult and creates confusion.

To keep all children safe and prevent allergy risks (due to accidental exposure to treats or pets), we must enforce a strict safety rule:

All visitors, including parents and grandparents, must report directly to the Main Office upon arrival.

If you need to drop off an item, treats, or share a message with your child, please do so through the office.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our entire school community safe and secure every day.

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 or drive-thru lane, as this blocks traffic flow and creates 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!

FSAs for Grade 4 and 7:

In October, students in grades 4 and 7 will complete the Foundation Skills Assessment. The Foundational Skills Assessments (FSAs) help us understand your child's progress in key areas like reading, writing, and math, providing insight into their learning. These assessments allow both teachers and parents to identify strengths and areas where additional support may be needed, ensuring each student reaches their full potential. This assessment is one of many that provides information about student learning at Whiteside and throughout the province.

Student Drop Off and Pick Up

We appreciate parents dropping off and picking up students only at their exterior doors. The front of the school and our hallways are busy places before and after school as teachers and staff work diligently to prepare their teaching. Please be respectful of these spaces and times. We are happy to assist you should you need to meet with a teacher. To meet a teacher, please visit the main office and we will connect with the teacher for you (or greet at your exit door).

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

Allergy Alert:

All families should be aware that Whiteside School has many students with severe, life-threatening food allergies. Some classrooms may be designated nut free to protect the health of these students. Please help us limit the nut products entering our school overall, as the impact on a student can happen anywhere in the school. If possible, please do not send food to school containing nuts.

Halloween in Richmond

The City of Richmond is offering over 20 spooktacular Halloween-inspired events and programs to choose from throughout the city (October 18-31).

• Halloween Hoot at the Richmond Nature Park (Oct. 18-29)
• Halloween Fireworks Festival at Minoru Park (Oct. 31)
• Halloween Family Skates (Oct. 31-Nov. 2)
• Click here to see more “fa-boo-lous” fun for everyone!

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

Here are some Halloween safety tips to keep you and your family safe on Halloween.

1. Light and Bright Costumes

Ensure costumes are highly visible and won't cause trips. Choose costumes that are light in color or, ideally, attach reflective tape or glow sticks to jackets and bags. If wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough for clear peripheral vision, or opt for face paint instead.

2. Check Candy, Then Eat

Teach children to never eat any candy before a trusted adult has inspected it. Parents should closely examine all treats for signs of tampering (unsealed or torn wrappers). Discard anything that looks suspicious, homemade items from unknown sources, or choking hazards (like hard candies) for very young children.

3. Stick to a Safety Plan

Plan your trick-or-treating route in advance and ensure children stick to it. Carry a bright flashlight and encourage kids to walk only on sidewalks and marked crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic. Younger children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.

4. Drive with Extreme Caution

Drivers must be extra vigilant on Halloween night, particularly between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Slow down in residential areas, anticipate that children may dart out from between parked cars, and take extra time when turning or backing up. Minimize distractions so you can focus entirely on the roadway.

~Whiteside Elementary