Flags at half mast / Important dates / Jersey Day!
This email went home to parents this afternoon. Please take note of the upcoming dates, in particular! Thank you for your warm, enthusiastic support of this beautiful community!
Good afternoon, North Shuswap school community members,
I send a newsletter last Sunday evening with some important information and some upcoming dates. I need to correct some dates and add some information.
Flags:
I would also like to communicate the reason for our flags being at half mast, as I’m sure you might have been wondering the reason. Following the awful tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Block Party in Vancouver on April 26, we were asked to lower the flags in respect and support for those affected. They will remain down until further notice. Thank you for being such a caring community, showing solidarity when others suffer.
The dates to add/correct are as follows:
May 2: Grade 8s to the career fair in Salmon Arm
May 19: Victoria Day Holiday – No school
May 27: K-1 to Jungle Mania & Grades 2-3 to the Salmon Arm pool (Parents, please work on criminal record checks if you plan to attend/support as a parent supervisor).
May 29: Grades 4-8 to the Salmon Arm pool (ditto re. criminal record checks).
I have pasted below the original message, but with the correct dates. Please refer to the version below.
School Spirit Day:
This Friday is JERSEY DAY. Please encourage some school spirit by remembering to help your child come ready to “represent”. 🙂
Thanks for your understanding & support.
Best regards,
Duncan Hazlewood
Principal, North Shuswap Elementary School
North Shuswap Elementary School Newsletter – April
Good afternoon, friends and families,
I hope you have enjoyed a lovely weekend in the sun and maybe even on the water! What a beautiful place we get to live and learn in! We have so much going on at North Shuswap these days that I will just jump right into the nitty gritty. Thanks for reading and keeping up with what is happening.
Track & Field: A huge thanks to our dedicated teachers for their efforts in organizing and supporting track and field. Mr. Schmidt took a small group to Kamloops on Saturday. More track and field to come. Mrs. Schmidt is taking a group of students to the cross country on Wednesday – thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Schmidt and many others supporting our young athletes!
Leadership Students: Our leadership students are actively participating in various activities, including public speaking, helping with announcements, and school spirit events.
Kindergarten Orientation: A virtual event will be held on May 7 from 7-8 pm. Please check your email for details. We will also hold a “Welcome to Kindergarten” event at North Shuswap Elementary later this month. More details to follow.
Grade 8 Transition: Family tour night at JL Jackson on June 10 at 6:30 pm.
Social Media Awareness Session: The last session is scheduled for May 7. More information is available on the SD83 website.
Sexual Health lessons (grades 2-8): See the attached notice regarding delivery of this part of the curriculum.
Renovations: The computer lab is being transformed and will be a lovely learning and self-regulation space. Thanks to our district staff and crew for their investment in our school! If anyone can donate good quality rugs/carpets to helps us create cozy corners, we would appreciate your involvement in making this a welcoming self-regulation space for students!
Community involvement: A lot of fun was had entering colouring contests to celebrate Easter. Also, we received a generous $500 donation from LCASS. We are working on upgrading our gaga pit with these funds. A huge thank you to all who so generously support our school community in so many ways!
We have a busy week ahead: April 28-May 2
Monday: Last day of Read-a-thon & class photos
Tuesday: Vision screening (grades K, 3, and 6).
Wednesday: Little Mountain Stomp (Cross-country running) in Salmon Arm for those who have signed up. Please ensure your child’s teacher &/or Mrs. Schmidt have details of your transportation plans. Reminder: It is district policy that parents may only transport children other than their own if they have completed a criminal record check and submitted insurance details & driving abstract to the school office.
Thursday: School spirit assembly!
Friday: Informal Learning Updates will be sent home. Look for those in your child’s backpack. We will also have a Spirit Day on Friday: JERSEY DAY! – Ice cream for a winning class!!
On the horizon:
May 2: Grade 8s to Salmon Arm – career fair
May 5: Indigenous Day of Learning (all staff) – no school for students
May 6: Track meet for those in Mr. Schmidt’s group / Plant Fundraiser pick up
May 7: PAC Meeting at 9 AM at school
May 13-14: Indigenous lessons with district Indigenous teachers
May 13: Sexual Health lessons (grades 2-8) – see attached letter/notice
May 19: Victoria Day Holiday – No school
May 23: Merry Marching Band – cultural performance
May 27: JungleMania/Gr2-3 pool
May 29: Grades 4-8 – Salmon Arm Pool
June 4: SD83Talks Showcase at AL Fortune
Year-End Activities: We have lots of exciting activities in the works. Stay tuned for more details.
Closing thoughts
As parents, guardians and caregivers, you all make up such an important part of our school community. Thank you for your support with doing your best to support our little learners with good rest, lots of physical activity, healthy nutrition, a balanced lifestyle with appropriate levels of screen time for their age, reading together, and lots of love and attention!
In our district, K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl\’ecw (pronounced KWA-SEELT-K-NAWS, NAY SUH-KWEP-MUK-OO-LOO), we believe in Belonging, Respect, Reconciliation, Empathy, Equity, and Perseverance. Our new name, in the Secwépemc language, translates to “we are all connected (people, animals, sky, land, and water) on Secwépemc land”.
“Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johnson
As always, feel free to stop by the school if you have any concerns or needs that we can support you with!
Best regards,
Duncan Hazlewood
Principal, North Shuswap Elementary School