Volume 9 Issue 15
May 1, 2017
Inside this Issue
On Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 pm
the PAC will hold its AGM. This is the time when planning
for next year begins. I encourage all parents to get involved with the PAC, come to meetings and maybe even
stand for a position. Your input is one of driving forces
behind our school’s success.
On the staff’s behalf I want to thank all those parents who
have served on the PAC this year for their time and energy.
We really appreciate all you do for us.
Rugby Jamboree
2
K Orientation
2
Bonjour, Bonne Nuit
2
2017-18 Calendar
3
Reunification Drill Info
4
Class Photo Day
5
Gr. 5 Transition Day
5
Lansdowne Student
Placement
6
Bike to School Week
7
Need Your Help
7
Blossom Festival
8
May Calendar
10
Dates to Remember
This is a reminder that when you are dropping of your
children please do not drive into or through the staff parking lot. We want to keep this clear for staff so that they
can quickly and easily get off the road. Today we had a
car stopped and others behind
them trying to get out, by backing
up. This simply makes it unsafe for
all of us.
Please leave this clear for staff and
the Oak Bay Rec bus that brings
the children to school.
Thank you for your cooperation.
 Wed. May 3—Gr. 3 Emergency Preparedness
Training
 Fri. May 5—Kindergarten
Orientation
 Tues. May 9—
Reunification Drill
 Wed. May 17—PAC AGM
in the library at 7:00
 Thurs. May 18– Gr. 5
Transition
 Thurs May 18 Blossom
Tree Festival
 Fri. May 19—Pro D Day
We will be hosting our annual Kindergarten
orientation on Friday, May 5th. We are really
looking forward to
meeting the students
and their parents.
We will be hosting our
new families at 9:00
and again after recess
at 10:50.
On Friday, May 12 our Rugby team will
be taking part in the annual Jamboree.
As in the past we will be sending some
very excited students. Students will
leave the school just after attendance
and return in the afternoon for dismissal. This is always an exciting day for
our team who have trained so hard.
On Thursday, April 20th our library hosted the third
Bonjour, Bonne Nuit evening put on by Canadian Parents for French.
Grade one French Immersion students were invited to put on their
pajamas, grab their favourite stuffie, and come to the library for bedtime stories. The
stories were read by a group of grade six French Immersion students from Lansdowne
Middle School. This year most of the grade 6 students were former Willows students—it
was great to have them back in a mentor role. Parents were offered coffee while the
children got cozy. Once the stories had been read milk and cookies
were served all round. As you can see, listeners and story readers
were totally engaged. Thanks to the families that joined us and
to the students, and their teacher, from Lansdowne for making this a very
special evening. Thanks everyone.
Calendar for 2017—2018
Schools open on Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Thanksgiving is Monday, October 9, 2017
Remembrance Day is Saturday, November 11, and the Statuary
holiday is Monday, November 13, 2017
The last day prior to the Winter Break is Friday, December 22, 2017
Schools re-open on Monday, January 8, 2018
Family Day is Monday, February 12, 2018
The last day prior to Spring Break is Friday, March 16, 2018
Good Friday is Friday, March 30, 2018
Easter Monday is Monday, April 2, 2018
Schools re-open on Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Victoria Day is Monday, May 21, 2018
Thursday, June 28, 2018 is the last day of school for students
Friday, June 29, 2018 is an Administrative Day
Pro. D. Days for the
2016-2017 school year
Monday, September 18, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Friday, November 24, 2017
Friday, February 23, 2018
Friday, April 20, 2018
Friday, May 18, 2018
School Chosen Date to Come
On Tuesday May 9th, from 1:20—2:50 Willows will be participating in a Student Release/
Reunification Drill. The purpose of this reunification drill is to practice the procedures that will be
carried out should an earthquake (or an equally serious event) occur during school hours. A
predetermined, practiced reunification method ensures that the reunification process will not
further complicate what would already be a chaotic, anxiety filled situation. More detailed information regarding this drill will be sent to all of our parents. A brief overview of the process is as
follows:
1) We will begin with our standard earthquake drill at 1:25. Students will ‘duck and cover’ and
then make their way outside with their backpacks.
2) Classes will proceed to the Student Holding Area (Musgrave field) and form into their buddy
circles.
Now your part
1) Parents/guardians will make their way to the school and make their way to the Parent
Check In Area on the blacktop at the back of the school
2) Parents/guardians will enter the school property through designated entrances only. Please
do not go directly to get your child.
3) Parents/guardians will self sort by the initial of the child’s last name and give the name of the
student(s) being picked up to one of the staff members at the table.
4) Government issued picture ID will be verified by the Reunification Team Members to ensure
that the person requesting the student(s) is authorized on the Student Release Form. If you
need to add a name, delete a name, or add Oak Bay Rec Afterschool Care etc. please
come in to the office or email Veronica at [email protected] as soon as possible. In
your email please indicate your child’s name, division, and the name of the person you wish
to add or delete. If you are adding a person, please make sure that you provide us with their
phone number.
5) Parents/guardians will take their form to runner who will go to the “Student Holding Area”
and get the student(s ) requested by the Parents/guardians , and escort the student(s) to the
“Student Release Area”.
6) Parents/guardians will be asked to sign the “School Release Form” indicating they picked up
the student(s). The date, time, and destination will be indicated on the pick up form and
give it to the staff member at the Release Gate. (by the large silver containers on the Musgrave field)
7) Students who are not picked up during this drill will be released from the Musgrave field at
the bell to make their usual way home. If children are going to an after school care program they will wait on the Musgrave field for their leaders to pick them up. Other students
will make their way to their usual spots for pickup.
We would like to see as many parents/guardians as possible coming to the school so that we
can get a real sense of what works, what we need to change, and how to improve.
If you have any questions, please call the school.
On Wednesday, May 17th class photos,
our grade 5 student photo, and the whole
school photo will be taken. The class photos
will start at 8:50 am. Photos will
not be retaken if
children are late and
miss their class photo, so
please have your children at
school on time. The whole
school photo will be taken at
approximately 11:30. There is no
cost for class photos or the
grade 5 photo. The whole
school photos can be purchased. Order envelopes for the whole school
photo will be available at the office closer to
the date.
Our track season is off and running. Staff
members have been working together,
organizing and coaching the students in
grades 3, 4, and 5. Grade 4/5 girls practice
on Mon. and Wed. at 3:00, Grade 4/5 boys
practice Tues. and Thurs. at 8:00 am, and
Grade 3 students practice Tues. and Thurs.
at 3:00.
Our school meet is taking place at UVIC on
Wednesday, May 24th at 10:00 am.
All students will be travelling by bus there
and back.
The City Finals will be held on
Thursday, June 1st
We welcome any parents who
would like to join in and support
our runners.
Each year the District sets aside one afternoon to enable all students moving from elementary to middle
school an opportunity to visit their new school.
This year that date is Thursday, May 18th. The individual
middle schools host our students with a variety of activities and the children come away with more of an understanding of what they can look forward to when
they arrive. Each year the children come back to Willows excited about the time they
have spent.
The grade 5 teachers will be arranging a trip to Lansdowne or Monterey Middle schools.
They will be accompanying them on their walk over, the visit there, and the walk back.
Unfortunately they can not arrange to be with
students if they visit a middle school other than
our pathway schools. So, if your child is going
to another middle school it will be up to parents to transport them to and from their
middle school.
Calling all biking enthusiasts!!! It is time to pump up your tires, pull out your bike locks
and dust off your helmets for this year’s Bike to School Week! As we do every year, we
encourage all kids to ride their bikes to school and take part in the fun. There will be
daily prize draws AND a chance for riders to win a pizza lunch for their class. Draw
tickets will be handed out at each of the bike rack areas of the school from 8:25AM
until the morning bell.
This year we will also be encouraging ALL STAFF to ride and participate and will have a
separate draw for those staff members that pedal to school!
We will run the BIKE TRAIN on Thursday, May 11th. These trains will be led by the Oak
Bay Police. Maybe Mayor Nils Jensen will join us again this year. The trains will follow
last year's routes and stop along the picking up kids all the way to Willows School! See
link to maps below
The South Oak Bay Train will leave Monterey Middle School at 8:15AM, and the North
Oak Bay Train will be leaving Allenby Park at 8:15AM, both to arrive well in time for
the 8:42AM bell. Please arrive at the starting place on time!
Bike to School Week Allenby Park to Willows School Bike Train: http://
www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/95987809/
Bike to School Week Monterey Middle to Willows School Bike Train: http://
www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/95985383/
The BIKE ’Roadeo’ (for Grade 4 students only) will be held on Friday, May 12th in the
afternoon.
This year our Grade 5 students will once again be serving tea at
our annual Victorian
Tea Party. It will be held the Friday before the Oak Bay Tea Party.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
We need to increase the number of teacups we have at the school and are hoping our
community can give us a hand. If you, your relatives, friends, or next door neighbours
have teacups that you no longer use, or want, please consider donating them to the
school. If we can build our collection it makes it much easier
to hold our tea each year and be able to set lovely tables.
We promise to care for them and thank you in advance for
your continued support.
The grade 5 students and their teachers.
Consider yourself cordially invited to
the Willows PAC Blossom Tree Festival
on the 18th of May. Start your four day
Victoria Day weekend with us. You’ll
notice NOT ONE blossom on our poster.
That’s because this piece of marketing
genius is plastered all over the school
and you know how much kids love
emojis. They’re going to be begging
you to come… best not disappoint them
otherwise it could be a —
Very Long Weekend.
Manipulation aside:-) this is our best
and biggest event where parents get to
chat over a Deadbeetz burger or PV
Amigos burrito whilst kids have fun
playing games for prizes.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Each year the Oak Bay Fire Department comes to
Willows and holds an Emergency Preparedness Training
session with all our grade 3 classes. This year the training will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd between
9:00—2:00. Students enjoy this session and the Fire
Department does a great job reviewing with students how
they can be prepared and play a role.
May 2017
mai 2017
Sun
dim
Mon
lun
1
Guest author
Alex A. 9:00
Grades 3, 4, 5.
7
14
Tue
mar
Wed
mer
2 Tennis les- 3
sons for Grade
2 students
begin today.
Gr.3
Bike to
9
10
School Week Reunifica- Grade 5’s go
tion Drill
1:30
to Camp.
16
17
28
Author Talk—
Chris Tougas
Grades K, 1, 2.
22 Victoria 23
Day—no
school in
session
29
30
11
5 Kindergarten 6
12
Bike
‘Roadeo’ for
Grade 4
13
Day
18
Grade 5
Transition visit
to middle
school p.m.
Blossom
Tree Festival
24
25
31
Sat
sam
Rugby Tournament
PAC AGM
7:00 Library
Zone track
meet UVIC
10:00—2:00
Fri
ven
Orientation
First session
9:00 –Second
session 10:50
Staff Meeting
pm
Class
and school
photo day
21
4
Emergency
Prep 9:00—
12:00
8
15
Thu
jeu
19
Pro D Day.
No school in
session
26
Pizza/Sushi
June 1
City finals—
UVIC 6:00
20
June 2
Heritage
Tea
27