What a great first week we had! On Wednesday, we kicked off our school year theme of “It’s Time to Shine” as we had the opportunity to come together in a school assembly to welcome our new staff members and students.
Our Kindergarten students also attended their first few days of school this week with them now attending next Monday-Wednesday from 8:30 am- 1:30 pm. A reminder to our Kindergarten families that there are no regular classes on Thursday or Friday of this week as intake meetings will be occurring.
Students in Grades 6/7 who are interested in playing Volleyball need to contact Mrs. Matlock as the season kicks off the week after next.
Watch for information about running club beginning for Grade 1-7.
Student Placements
All families with children in Grades 1-7 should receive a Parent Portal notice Sunday evening regarding your child’s 2024/2025 classroom placement.
As you can imagine the process of organizing classrooms to meet the needs of our students is a very complex process and can be challenging. In June, and again over this past week our staff has spent many hours designing effective, positive learning environments for your children.
Through the process of designing these environments teachers have had to consider many critical factors such as:
- individual academic needs
- student learning styles along with their strengths and needs
- each child’s social needs and peer relationships
- emotional characteristics for each child,
- balance of gender in each class
- number of students per class
- entire class composition
We are confident in the decisions made this year and are excited to move forward with our new learning communities. While social groupings are considered, new groupings allow children to have a wider circle of friends.
Resiliency is a skill built by experiences, and we understand that some children may feel disappointment. We ask that you discuss with your child the careful process that teachers and staff go through in placing them into classes. Acknowledge their feelings and help them to move forward in a positive way by encouraging them.
If you have any concerns about your child’s placement, please speak with your child’s teacher about your child’s strengths, needs and interests.
Combine Classes
Here are some answers to common questions we often receive regarding Combine Classes.
Will a student miss or repeat curriculum material?
In today’s classrooms, the focus has shifted away from memorizing facts and learning content knowledge. Instead, there is an increased emphasis on the development of skills and understanding concepts and processes, in addition to developing the attitudes and mindset of a lifelong learner. With rapid changes in science and technology, it is essential students learn how to access information, evaluate ideas, make judgments, collaborate with others, and transfer knowledge in novel ways.
Teachers of combined classes create learning engagements that meet the needs of all learners, often incorporating learning outcomes from both grades into holistic, theme-based units of study. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework helps teachers design curriculum to meet individual student needs while recognizing student strengths. Using this framework helps all teachers, whether straight grade or combined, succeed in creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
How can families support their children?
Regardless of their child’s class placement, families are encouraged to stay positive and interested in their child’s learning. Families can demonstrate support by encouraging open-mindedness, risk-taking, and principled learning. Families are also encouraged to monitor schoolwork and to communicate openly with the teacher around their child’s strengths, stretches, and learning goals.
Why do we use the term ‘combined’?
Combined grade classrooms have many names including split grades, multi-age, family grouping, etc. The term split grade sometimes becomes negatively associated with teachers splitting their time and attention between two distinct groups. The term combined class reflects a more holistic approach to learning that emphasizes whole group instruction, as well as opportunities for flexible groupings to meet students’ learning styles and needs.
How will being in a combined class impact my child?
Studies have shown that academic achievement is not impacted by being in a combined class versus a straight-grade class. In other words, there is no academic detriment to combined grade groupings. In fact, many studies have concluded there are social emotional benefits for students in combined classes, including greater leadership skills, increased self-esteem, increased social responsibility, and more positive peer interactions.
How will combined classes benefit my child?
Just like in life, there are often combined classes in high school, especially for electives. Giving children the opportunity to have different experiences in elementary school does what school is designed to do — prepare students for real life.
Cops for Cancer are coming again!
We are so excited for this year the Cops for Cancer TOUR DE COAST will be stopping by Albion Elementary on Wednesday, September 18th at 9:26 am. Ensure that you mark this on your calendar for last year it was an amazing event to be part of.
As a participating school, we will raising funds to support children and families living with cancer, and to help us raise funds Cops for Cancer.
Families can donate in a variety of ways:
1) Canadian Cancer Society is excited to announce the Cops for Cancer 2024 Raffle!
The link for the raffle can be found at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/ccs-bc/95
Prizes available to be won include:
Prize # 1 – Luxury Whistler Weekend – ($2,026 value)
Prize # 2 – One roundtrip flight for two guests to any regularly scheduled WestJet destination – (valued at up to $2,900)
Prize # 3 – Vancouver Luxury Weekend Package – ($1,800 value)
Draw will take place on October 4th 2024 at 12:00pm. Winners will be contacted by the
Canadian Cancer Society to collect their prizes. Actual odds depend on number of tickets sold.
2) Regular donations can be made through the team page (enter Albion Elementary)that can be found at https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/?fr_id=29671&pg=pfind&fr_search_type=team&donate=true
3) Or have your child bring in a cash donation the week leading up to the event (more information will be sent out later this week).
Thank you to everyone at Albion Elementary for all that you do as part of the Tour de Coast family. Since the first tour in 1998, Cops for Cancer has raised over $54 million in support of children and families living with cancer. These funds have most certainly saved lives, prevented some parents from ever hearing the words “your child has cancer” and has brought hope to families that did experience cancer.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Dailey
2024/2025 Consent Forms
Ensure that you log onto the Parent Portal to complete the required district consent forms for your child. Forms are located along the top bar highlighted on green called Consent Forms
Lost and Found
We have only been in session for 4 days and items are already appearing in our lost and found. To see video click HERE
Personal Possessions
All possessions should be labeled with a student’s full name. This will allow possessions to be returned it they are misplaced. We strongly discourage students from bringing any “valuables” unrelated to their educational program needs.
Breakfast Club
Our universal Breakfast Club is open every morning from 8:00 to 8:25. It is drop in and offers a variety of breakfast and snack items including, cereal, breakfast bars, cheese strings, yogurt and sometimes hot items like breakfast wraps, toast, bagels and pancakes. Students must enter the school via the North doors next to the two portables beside the Netplex Playground and go to the kitchen next to the gym. We do not have supervision for students after they are finished their breakfast and go back outside so it is recommended that if your child is in a younger grade that they arrive at breakfast club around 8:15 am, as this will give them time to get to class after they are done.
Fully Subsitized Lunch Program- (Targeted for families who require financial assistance)
To register contact our Child and Youth Worker Kellie at kellie_mcnutt@sd42.ca
On Mondays we again will offer a bagged lunch program (includes a sandwich, fruit, drink and snack). This program is provided by the Salvation Army Registered students then come to the kitchen to collect their lunch and then return to class to eat it.
If you require any further lunch assistance please contact Mrs. Dailey or Kellie.
School Wide Universal Lunch Program
On Tuesdays and Thursdays the whole school will be offered the universal hot lunch program again this year. Simply Foods will be providing the Fuel Up! Lunch Program . There will be more information provided by the school shortly about this program and how to sign up online.
Student/Parent Handbook/Technology Policy
Ensure that you spend time reading the 2024/2025 Student/Parent Handbook and Technology Policy. A copy of these important items can be found on this website and also in the front of your child’s planner.
Student Medication
From time-to-time students require medication at school. To facilitate this, parents are required to complete a Medical Intervention form and provide a supply of the medication, in its original container, to the office. Please note that students may not be in possession of any medication at school unless specifically authorized by the principal, and staff may not administer medication to students unless the required form is completed and signed by a parent.
If your child has an existing medical condition such as, but not limited to, diabetes, allergies, etc., that we should be aware of, parents must complete a Medical Intervention form. These forms can be obtained at the office or under the Parent Tab under Medical and Driving Forms on this website.
Parking Lot Reminders
Parents will quickly become aware that our parking lot is extremely busy before and after school. We encourage children to walk to school or ask that parents park away from the school and walk to pick up their child. Not only does walking with your child promote physical activity, it also helps to ensure a safe environment for our students, allowing emergency vehicles and busses to enter the parking lot unobstructed.
Please be aware our parking lot is closed to vehicles during our after-school pick-up time, from 2:00 pm until approximately 2:30pm. Exceptions will be made for registered daycares, medical situations, students with diverse needs, or unusual circumstances. Please apply for a permit at the school office.
As well, we ask that parents drive throughout the parking lot in the mornings ONLY if they are dropping children off. We request that for the safety of our students and staff that all drivers please abide by the “Kiss and Go” drop off procedure. We request that you do not leave your vehicle, for if you need to park and come into the school, please park in the neighbourhood, unfortunately due to the size of our staff there is often no visitor parking.
The parking lot north of the school (behind the portables) is for staff parking only.
This week
Monday, Sept. 9
2:30 pm Boys’ Competitive Volleyball tryouts
Tuesday, Sept. 10
Rec Volleyball Practice at 7;30 am
2:30 pm Girls’ Competitive Volleyball Tryouts
Wednesday, Sept. 11
7:30 am Boys’ Competitive Volleyball tryouts
2:30 pm Girls’ Competitive Volleyball Tryouts
Thursday, Sept. 12
7:30 am Rec Volleyball Practice
2:30 pm Girls’ Competitive Volleyball Tryouts
Friday, Sept. 13
Boys’ Competitive Volleyball tryouts/Practice 7:30 am
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 16- PAC Meeting 7:00 pm Library
Wednesday, September 18 – Cops for Cancer Tour visits Albion at 9:26 am
Thursday, September 26- PAC BQ (Complimentary hot dogs, chips and beverages for purchase) 4-6 pm
– Open House 5-6 pm
Friday, September 27- Student Individual Photos
Monday, September 30- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation- No School
Tuesday October 1- School Growth Plan Day- No School