St. Bernadette Elementary
School Newsletter
September 14th, 2016
Highlights
• School Calendar
• Meet the Teacher Night
• On Volunteer
• Dragon Boating Drivers Needed
• Choir Director Needed
Sept. 16th, 23rd, 30th Grade 5, 6 and 7 Dragon boating
Sept. 21st Timberline Fundraiser – Non-Uniform Day
Sept. 22nd Photo Day
Sept. 22nd Meet the Teacher/Parent Info Night @ 6:30pm
School News
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Our school calendar is located under the “School Life” tab on our website. We call this calendar a “living document” because it is regularly updated. It is recommended that you frequently view our calendar on the website or click on the +Google Calendar button on the bottom right of the calendar (see image below). By doing this you are adding our calendar to your google calendar and all the updates and changes will appear live.
Please note that we have already added another professional development day on October 28th (No school that day), we have added volleyball games for grade 5 -7 students and we still need to add one more professional development day in the school year once the workshop is confirmed.
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL PHOTOS
Individual student photos will be taken on Thursday, September 22nd. Please ensure that your child is in full uniform on this day. Last week your child was given the portrait selection sheet from Lifetouch. Whether you are ordering or not please complete the form and have your child give the form to the photographer on picture day. Samples of the photos will be sent home via the school approximately 2 weeks after photo day. Please ensure that your child(ren) are present at school for these photos as they are the photos that are used for the school database.
MEET THE TEACHER/ PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
Please mark your calendars for September 22nd Meet the Teacher/Parent Information Night. The evening begins at 6:30 in the parish hall. The school will be relaying some very important information in regards to the upcoming school year. After the short gathering, parents will then proceed to their child’s class to meet the teacher. Teachers will share information for the year ahead. It is really important that you attend this evening and 1hour of parent participation will be given to every family who attends. This is one of two mandatory nights for families so please make arrangements to attend (the other night is the AGM/Parent Support Night in January).
NEW*** ON VOLUNTEER SITE
The PEC is in the works of creating a new system for recording Parent Participation Hours. The new system will be online and is designed to make the process easier for parents. This new system will be unveiled at the Meet the Teacher/Parent Information Night. Please make sure you are there.
GRADE 5,6,7 DRAGON BOATING
We are in need of drivers for Dragon boating. We are short about 4-6 drivers in each classroom. We do not want to cancel this excellent program that teaches students teamwork, water safety, and skills around boating. The experience is part of their PE curriculum. Please let your classroom teacher know if you are able to help out.
CHOIR DIRECTOR
Our school choir was a fantastic addition to our school last year. They made Mass more meaningful and engaging. We are in need of a parent to help run our choir this year. Mr. Pierre Roy and Mrs. Colleen Branson are there to help, but we need a parent to take on the role of director. This of course will count for your parent participation hours. Practices are Wednesdays after school for 1 hour and the choir sings at all our masses. Please contact Mr. van der Pauw at principal@stbernadette.ca if you would like to join.
VOICEMAILS
The school is currently having issues with the voicemail system (mailboxes are reporting full when they are not, staff unable to retrieve messages, etc.) and are in the process of having it fixed. If you have a message that is urgent please deliver it via email to ensure we receive it in a timely fashion. Email addresses of the staff can be found on the school website.
Reminders
LATE/ABSENT
If your child is going to be late or absent, please call the office before 9:00 am., if calling prior to 8:30am, please leave a voicemail for the school secretary, do not leave a voicemail for the classroom teacher, as the teacher may not have had time to check their voicemail When your child returns to school, please ensure that an Absentee Form is completed with the correct date of the absence, the reason for being absent and a parent’s signature. This form is to be given to the teacher so that we are able to keep an accurate record for the attendance audit. An Absentee form is attached and can also be found at the school office or downloaded off of the school website. If your child is going to be late, please have him/her sign in at the office and get a late slip.
NOTES FROM PARENTS
We require a signed note from a parent when:
• your child has been absent from school for any reason
• your child needs to leave the school for an appointment, etc.
• your child cannot participate in a specific activity
• your child cannot go outdoors during recess or lunch break
• someone other than yourself picking up your child early from school (early dismissal)
Once school has started, children who are late or who have to leave the school early MUST sign in or out at the office.
STAFF MEETINGS
Staff meetings are held every Wednesday afternoon. Dismissal is at 2:15 pm.
POLICY REMINDERS
If you are bringing anything to the school for your child (lunch, homework, etc.), please leave the item in the green box outside the classroom. Please do not disturb the class for any reason. If you are picking your child up during school hours for an appointment, etc., please sign him or her out and have Mrs. Gelz or Mrs. Spanjers get your child from their class.
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
The Hot Lunch program will start in October. Typically it will be the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Order forms will be sent home towards the end of September.
PARKING LOT DROP OFF AND PICK UP
As you have probably of noticed, their are new lines painted in our parking lot. The design it to provide students with more activities during recess and to provide better safety measures during school hours. The solid yellow line running parallel to the school field and playground is not to be crossed by any vehicle from 7am (the start of Stingers Club) to 6pm (the end of Stingers Club). This is to ensure proper safety for our students.
A yellow line has also been painted at the drop off area near the exit gates. Please stop your vehicle behind this line to drop of your children safely before school.
We ask that you familiarize yourself with the drop off and pick up routines in the parent handbook. (If you don’t have a handbook you can download one off our website)
LABEL YOUR UNIFORMS
We notice that quite often we find uniforms in the lost and found without student names on it. It is important to label your uniforms and to relabel them throughout the year if you are using a marker on a tag.
Links
School Calendar
Absentee Forms
Stingers Club
St. Bernadette Elementary Catholic School
13130 65B Ave
Surrey, BC V3W 9M1
phone: (604) 596-1101
fax: (604) 596-1550
stbernadette@telus.net