It was lovely to meet so many of you over the last little while. The past weeks have been a delightful time of introductions and connecting. Student Learning Plan meetings wrap up next week. In person classes begin for the Intermediate group on Friday October 1. As this day is also school photo day, students from both groups are welcome top come to the photo session at 9:00am. We will meet near the front doors of the school right at 9:00. Intermediate students will stay for the whole day. Primary students will leave as soon as their photo is finished. (We will meet the Primary students at 9:00am at the front of the school the following Monday for their first day of attendance.) Exciting times!

It has been brought to my attention that some families are not getting an email to tell them about a new blog posting. As the Administration of the Blog has changed hands, perhaps try subscribing again? A quick reminder that the best way to reach me is through me email (rather than replying to the blog) …. lbaker@vsb.bc.ca

In your envelops you will find some items direct from the school district. This includes an extremely important VERIFICATION SHEET and a Student Reunification Sheet. This information is collected in case of emergency, and it is essential to return it as soon as possible. In addition, you will find information about School Fees. These are collected from every student throughout VSB. Home Learners are not required to pay the Supplementary fees.

The package also includes a school calendar, a media consent form, a consent form that allows us to go on walks to local parks and other locations for educational purposes that are within walking distance of the school, permission for your child to receive free fruits and vegetables provided through BC Agriculture in the Classroom program.  A Parent email is also collected in the package. If you leave the package stapled together this will make things very easy to track; just detach the orange School Calendar page at the back of the package and we should be good to go!

Please complete and return the package before October 15^th by placing it in your child’s envelop before that date. Speaking of the envelops…. I am enjoying the wonderful decorations many students have done on the envelop! Decorating is voluntary but will make it easier for you to identify yours in the tote. To clarify one thing about the envelops: after your next pick-up/drop-off trip the envelop Stays in the tote at School. This way, there will always be a place for me to give items to individuals and families, and for parents families to give items back to me.

One last reminder: Activation Assignments are due before 3:00pm Wednesday Sept 29^th.

Student Learning Plans now well under way! The meetings are in
Person, and held in our classroom. Please phone the school upon arrival and someone will meet you at the front doors to bring you in. Please remember the masks are required for all adults and students Grade 4 and older. The VSB strongly encourages younger students to wear masks as well and I would also appreciate it.

If you have not already booked a time for this essential part of the program please go to the calendar and email me a first and second choice for a meeting time as soon as possible.

Every registered student now has a personal envelop for returning assignments, picking up materials etc. It can be found in the Home Learner Tote n the front steps of the school. Please check it frequently. Feel free to decorate it! 😊

Another essential part of the program is the Activation assignment. They are due on September 29^th. Feel free to pick them up from the tote ahead of time.

Save the Date: Monday Oct 1 is school photo day. Details to follow.

Orange Shirt Day is a community wide initiative to acknowledge the impact that Residential Schools have had on Indigenous people in Canada. This year our Orange Shirt Day is September 29. Please note that school will not be in session on September 30, the new statutory day of reflection.

There are many other special even days, and days when school is not in session. These include Professional Days, Stat holidays, Portfolios Meeting dates, Immunization clinics, Winter Break/Spring Break etc. These will be posted on the calendar attached to the Blog.

I’ve attached information about resources and events your children might also be interested.                    I am very much enjoying the Student Learning Plan meetings, and look forward to meeting with you soon.

Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)  Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology – SCWIST. is hosting workshops and events for kids from K-12, currently online. All workshops are free.

For Science Literacy week 2021  http://www.scienceliteracy.ca/, they are hosting virtual Climate themed hands-on activities for kids ages 7-12, from Sep 21st-Sep 24th.  They host live sessions and also provide pre-recorded videos of the activities and instructions to all schools that register. The materials needed for the activities are easy to find household materials. ​​​​​​​

Sessions planned: 1. Learn about the factors affecting climate

2. Be a polar bear and learn about polar adaptations
3. How does climate change affect food chains
4. Day 4 is surprise​​​​​​​

Link for sign up.

FuturePLAY are thrilled to support STEM Sorority (a club that offer girls a comfortable and supportive environment to explore their passion for STEM) and their latest initiative – Project Escape. This Escape Room activity is for grade 6-7 students to incorporate & build upon their science knowledge.

Check out THIS video to learn more. Also, here is the link to the Project Escape description to include links to all the Project Escape materials.

To get the project scape for your class go here:  https://www.stemsorority.com/project-escape/

If you have any questions you can contact STEM Sorority : stemsorority@gmail.com or Mónica Aguirre @maguirre@vsb.bc.ca

 

In the Know

Topic: Beyond Behaviours: When Is It More? What It Looks Like at Ages 4 to 8 years

When our kids are having a hard time, or we are seeing something for the first time, we might wonder what’s going on?  In this video conversation, a parent and a counsellor talk about the developmental stages of 4 to 8 year old children, what are typical behaviours and how do we know when something more might be going on.  This conversation is for all families and caregivers who feel like they are parenting in the deep end of the swimming pool or are just wondering what they can do when it feels like more.

Date:  Monday, September 20 @ 4:30-6:00 PM

Registration: Click here to Register

My name is Lorraine Baker, and I am your new Home Learner Program Teacher! I was delighted to be offered and accept the opportunity to lead this unique and innovative program. I am very familiar with the program having been its administrator several years ago. Ms. Hobson has keep me well informed about how this program continues to thrive and I look forward to connecting with you soon.  Until then, the best way to reach me is through email at lbaker@vsb.bc.ca

In the next few days I will be contacting those of you who have already emailed me, to confirm dates and times for the planning meetings. I will also be reaching out to those of you who are new to the program and our routines. Meanwhile, I urge you begin thinking about what sorts of interests and strategies you would like to discuss for best meeting your child’s learning goals this year.  Your former teacher, Ms. Hobson has created an amazing resource with this blog, and I will be adding to it regularly.

Due to COVID we will continue to eat our snacks and lunches in the Classroom. Also, although masks are only mandatory for Grades 4 through 12, the VSB strongly encourages students from Kindergarten through Grade 3 to wear masks as much as possible. And I hope they do as well.

Please note: students will need to update their VSB passwords…I am including a link here for easy access:  – students will need to make new 2-3 word passwords, student option- https://studentpass.vsb.bc.ca/

Some of our communication will take place online. Occasionally I will be sending out meeting invitations through TEAMS. Please install the app so that our connections can go through more quickly and it is easier to share screens etc. I look forward to meeting you and working with you soon!                                     Warmly, Ms. Lorraine Baker