Weekly Memo January 13-17, 2025

What a great 1st week back we had.  On Wednesday our students attended assemblies where discussions occured around belonging and feeling safe at school.  The followign video was show to the students Diversity and Inclusion.  Here are some of the notes that were taken during our discussion.

What does it mean to belong?

• People not being mean and are being kind and thoughtful
• Saying hello and being polite to others
• Giving people a hug when they need it (ensuing that we ask permission to do so)
• Feeling accepted and not excluded
• Feeling equal to others
• Not beign ashamed but proud of your background
• Feeling part of the community
• Feeling loved and cared for
• Feeling safe
• Feeling like you are a part of the whole
• Not feeling judged, but accepting who you are

What makes you feel safe and included?

• When you are with people who care about you
• When you have friends to paly with
• Being cared for
• Not feeling alone
• Having friends and others around who care and are like family
• Remebering that your differences do not decide your worth
• Making good choices

What do you think helps people feel welcome and cared for?

• Have people around who are warm and welcoming
• When there is always someone there for you
• Connecting with others who believe in you
• Sharing things with others who care

What are some things that our school does to make everyone feel welcome?

• We are nice to others and help them
• We show new people around
• We help people when they get hurt
• We include and play with others
• We learn about many cultures
• We have Flags at the front
• Staff are there for all students
• We celebrate many different cultural events

What are some ideas to make our school more inclusive?

• We could have more helpers, even parents
• We could play with people we don’t know
• We could help keep our school clean
• We could stand up for others
• Don’t laugh at others if they do something embarrassing
• Don’t tolerate people making fun of others for their differences
• Advertise our buddy bench
• Have an inclusivity/diversity club
• Display art from different countries and cultures
• Ensure that we have a place for people to go who are not feeling good
• Have an Identity Day, Cultural Day
• Do secret acts of kindness

We will now take these ideas and further discuss them at upcoming staff meetings and studnet leadership meetings.

On Friday not only did several students and staff dress the same as one another but we had an amazing pancake breakfast that was prepared and served by our PAC.  A huge thank you to all the wonderful parents who volunteered for the event was enjoyed by all!

Black Excellence Day- Wednedsay, January 15
As a lead up to Black History Month, Black Excellence Day is a day to rejoice Black history and learn about Black stories, Black art and Black people, and a day to stand in solidarity with Black Canadians.  All students are encouraged to show their support in this day by wearing black.  For more information on Black Excellence Day visit this link.

Passion Club
Meet Wednesdays 12:00-12:40 in the Multi-Purpose room 

Students Grades 2 to 7 are invited to join this club 

The intention is to allow time for children to come together with other and learn hobbies or skills while spending time with others from the school community.  

Some ideas of things to learn or create include Knitting, making bracelets, drawing, reading, writing, making a game, origami, weaving, crocheting, etc. Choices need to be safe, able to be done and cleaned up within the lunch hour. There is no space for things to be saved or to dry over the week. This is NOT a club for sports activities, games, hanging out chatting, etc. if in doubt they can check with the supervising teachers (Mrs. Weger, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Golnick, Ms. Lindert, Mrs. Dailey) Students must be doing something related to their passion or skill they want to learn or learning from another student.  

Children need to plan ahead and make sure they bring all supplies they will need. They might need to have their families help them gather or buy their supplies.  No supplies will be provided at the school. 

Children will be responsible for eating their lunches during this time without making a mess or spilling on other’s materials. It is not ok for a child to return to class and ask to eat at 12:40 

Children are responsible for cleaning up all their supplies and any mess they create before 12:40 pm 

If there are too many children for the day the supervising teacher may need to limit participation to manageable numbers. 

PAC News
The next PAC Hot lunch is schedules for Friday, Janaury 24.  All orders close on Thursday, January 16th at 8:00 pm.  To order visit www.munchalunch.com

This week
Monday, January 13^th   
Girl’s Rec Basketball Practice – 7:30am
Grade 2/3 open gym at recess
Boys Comp Basketball Practice @ 12pm
Girls Comp Basketball Practice – 2:30 to 4pm
Boys Rec Away Game @ Yennadon – 2:30 to 4pm
Sketch book club Grade 3-7 2:25-3:00 pm – Mrs. Rankin’s Portable
PAC Meeting 6:30 pm- Library

Tuesday, January 14^th      
Gr. 4/5 Girls Basketball @ Recess
Boys Comp Basketball Practice @ 12pm
Girls’ Rec Basketball Game vs TBD – 2:30 to 4pm

Wednesday, January 15^th
Black Excellence Day
Girls’ Comp Basketball Practice – 7:30am
Grade 2/3 open gym at recess
Boys Comp Basketball Practice @ 12pm
Passion Club Grade 2-7 MPR at lunch 12:00- 12:40 pm
Boys Comp Home Game vs Kanaka – 2:30pm to 4pm

Thursday, January 16^th
Girls’ Rec Basketball Practice – 7:30am
Grade 4/5 open gym at Recess
Boys Comp Basketball Practice @ 12pm
Girls’ Comp Basketball Game bs TBD – 2:30 to 4pm
All hot lunch orders on www.munchalunch.com due by 8:00 pm

Friday, January 17^th
Boys’ Rec Basketball Practice – 7:30am
Gr. 4/5 Girls Basketball @ Recess
Boys Comp Basketball Practice @ 12pm
After-School Basketball Program @ 2:30pm- Pre- registration required

Up Coming Events
Jan. 21- Div. 2 and 11 Skating 10-12 pm
Jan. 24- PAC Hot Lunch
Jan. 27- BC Lions Energy Champions Assembly 12:45-1:30pm
Jan. 28- District Non-Instructional Day
Jan. 29- Lunar New Year