Dear Parents,
I am pleased once again to be offering a unique opportunity for grade 5 – 7 students to participate in a club that focuses on connections with nature, development of life skills, and character building. The Outdoor Adventure Club combined with the PE department, took the grade 5 – 7 students Dragon Boating at the beginning of the year. The last activity for the club this year is skiing/snowboarding in Whistler. These experiences are curriculum based and offer an invaluable educational experience.
Last year we collected $10 per person to secure spots for this year’s Whistler trip. That $10 will be put towards your registration fee. You may choose from a one-day or two-day experience. It is recommended that you register for a two-day experience if you wish your child to develop and maintain skills in skiing or snowboarding.
It is really important that you read the forms carefully and fully fill out the registration, medical and waiver forms. One form needs to be filled out and signed per person attending (extra forms are at the office or you can click on the link below to print one off at home).
All signed documents and money are due by MONDAY NOVEMBER 21ST, 2016. Refunds will not be given if a child does not attend the trip for any reason.
**NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED**
please make cheques payable to St. Bernadette School.
If you have any question, please contact me through the office,
Yours in Christ,
Michael van der Pauw
st-bernadette-rts-registration-package
St. Bernadette Elementary
School Newsletter
November 2nd, 2016
Highlights
• Clothing Drive
• Fall Social
• Grade 3 position
• Christmas Eve Choir
November 5th Fall Social
November 6th & 7th Clothing Drive
November 10th Remembrance Day Ceremony (hosted by Gr.2)
November 11th Remembrance Day (No School)
November 17th & 18th Student Conferences
School News
REMEMBRANCE DAY POPPIES
Grade Six students will be visiting each classroom with poppies on a daily basis starting Monday, November 7th until Thursday, November 10th . A donation of any amount is required to purchase poppies; all proceeds are given directly to the Canadian Legion.
GRADE 3 POSITION
St. Bernadette School is happy to announce the new hire of Vanja McLellan for the Gr. 3. She will replace Mrs. Wagg for the remainder of this year (please keep Mrs. Wagg in your prayers).
She has taught from kindergarten to grade 7 in both public and independent schools. She has started teaching Liturgy of the Word at her parish and is excited to be teaching at a St. Bernadette’s. We look forward to having her in our school community! Please join us in welcoming her into our school.
TONE CHIME/BELL PROGRAM
Our tone chime/bell choir classes will teach students in grade 5 – 7 tone chime and hand bell techniques. There is no charge for students enrolled at St. Bernadette to attend these classes. Typically the chime/bell choir plays at Mass, the Seniors Christmas Dinner, school concerts, St. Nicholas Breakfast, Christmas Eve Mass, the Crowning of Mary and other events. Practices are Wednesdays 12:15pm – 12:45pm and again on Wednesdays from 2:20pm to 2:50pm depending on enrolment. The first class will begin on October 26th. If parents have any questions they can call Mr. Pierre Roy at 604-572-3787 or they can contact the school.
CLOTHING DRIVE
The clothing drive fundraiser will be on Sunday November 6th 9:00am-1:00pm and Monday, November 7th before and after school. All donations are to be dropped off at the school ONLY on these dates. If there are no bags available, you are to use your own.
CHRISTMAS EVE CHOIR
Dear Parents,
It is almost that time of the year again….
St. Bernadette Parish will once again have a Christmas Eve Children’s Choir Mass on December 24th at 6:30 PM. We would like to open this invitation to St Bernadette Elementary students and to PREP students to join us for this very exciting and entertaining service.
Practices will be Saturdays (6:30-8:00 PM) starting on November 12th at the Parish Church.
In addition, the same group will also be performing for our Parish’s Senior Dinner to be announced at a later date.
Looking forward to seeing your kids on Saturday Nov 12th….
If you have any questions at all or to confirm your child/children’s participation, please email us at jblnavoa@gmail.com.
In Christ,
John and Brenda Navoa
Children’s Choir Lead
PS Every year, we are not only growing, the kids are getting better and better. Come join us.
KINDERGARTEN 2017
If you have a child that was born in 2012 and will be attending kindergarten in September 2017, please call the school office.
Reminders
HALLOWEEN CANDY
We will be collecting hallowe’en candy again this year. The Grade 7 students will be putting together candy bags for Agape Ministries. There will be a box in the school hallway by the office for the candy donations. Thank you for your ongoing support and thoughtfulness. It is through your generosity that we are able to carry out God’s ministry to those who are less fortunate.
CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL PARKING PROCEDURES
Every year we monitor and adjust our safety procedures in oder to improve student safety and wellbeing. During our monitoring of the current pick up and drop off routines, we have noticed an increase of reckless and dangerous behaviour. This mainly pertains to the alleyway alongside the parish hall where parents are able to drop off their child and immediately exit. Although many of the instances do not involve our parents, the danger still presents itself.
Starting immediately, there will no longer be access to the alleyway for drop-offs. Parents are asked to drop their child off in the parking lot and escort them to the other side of the yellow line. We understand that this is going to increase traffic into our parking lot, we also understand that this not a perfect solution, but one that is necessary at this time.
We have also noticed that there are still some parents who are crossing the yellow line with their vehicle, especially on rainy days. This has caused us to put cones back on the yellow line to prevent this from happening. Please make note not to cross the yellow line at anytime while school is in session (7am – 6pm).
TONE CHIME/BELL PROGRAM
Our tone chime/bell choir classes will teach students in grade 5 – 7 tone chime and hand bell techniques. There is no charge for students enrolled at St. Bernadette to attend these classes. Typically the chime/bell choir plays at Mass, the Seniors Christmas Dinner, school concerts, St. Nicholas Breakfast, Christmas Eve Mass, the Crowning of Mary and other events. Practices are Wednesdays 12:15pm – 12:45pm and again on Wednesdays from 2:20pm to 2:50pm depending on enrolment. The first class will begin on October 26th. If parents have any questions they can call Mr. Pierre Roy at 604-572-3787 or they can contact the school.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
As we move into the fall and winter months, storms may become more severe causing a school closure. School closures are done because it is unsafe for families to drive to school, or it is unsafe for students to be at the school. Typically a school might be closed due to icy/unsafe road conditions, power outages, or a gas leak/unsafe environment in and around the school area.
In the event of a school closure, families will be notified in the following ways (please do not call the school to ask if school is opened or closed – we would need to keep the phone lines open in the event of an emergency)
Classroom Parent Representative – Your classroom parent rep will call/text you to inform you of the school closure. For those parents with multiple children in the school this would mean that you will be contacted by more than one parent rep. It is important that you answer your phone or reply to the text message so that the parent rep knows that you have been informed to not attend school for the day or to pick up your child early. Once all the parents have been contacted, the classroom teacher will be informed and the teacher will inform the school.
Alternate forms of communication if the school is closed
These are only done if possible and should not be relied on as a main function for finding out if school is closed or open.
Website – If possible the school will update the website with a post under news (scroll down the homepage) that will state that the school is closed.
Radio and TV – In the event of a school closure that happens before the start of school, the principal will contact CKNW 980 and NEWS 1130 along with Global TV to broadcast that the school is closed. This is typically only done if the school is closed due to unsafe driving conditions before school starts
Email – Only done if the school is closed part way through the day and the school has power. The school will issue a school wide email out to all parents. Do not respond to this email – instead please make contact with your parent rep.
Social Media – In addition to the parent rep making contact the school will attempt to update the Facebook and Twitter accounts.
SCHOOL E-MAIL ADDRESS
We have a new e-mail address, please make note of it:
admin@stbernadette.ca
INCLEMENT WEATHER
With the cold and rainy season coming, please make sure your children are appropriately dressed for the weather. Students are expected to go outside for recess in order to get some exercise and fresh air. Coats, gloves, hats and boots are recommended, depending on the weather. Please make sure your child has everything he or she needs before coming to school.
If it is raining when your child comes to school, the students are permitted to go directly into the classrooms. They must still go through their designated doors and not through the front doors. Any outdoor footwear must be removed immediately upon entering the school. Please make sure that all coats, boots, umbrellas, etc. are labeled with your child’s name.
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
admin@stbernadette.ca