HENRY HUDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER
Vancouver Board of Education
April 2016 Newsletter
1551 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3L3 Phone: 604-713-5441 Fax: 604-713-5443
Principal’s Message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
With the recent media reports describing the current deficit for the upcoming school
year, questions have been raised about how this will affect our school. The projected
deficit is very substantial and will directly affect student services. All ideas to address the
shortfall are proposals at this time. VSB staff have shared multiple proposals and it will
ultimately be the final decision of the Trustees on what will be done to balance the
budget. Some proposals that would directly affect us include a reduction of the funds we
use directly for classroom supplies, technology, paper, gym equipment and
performances. As well, the band program would end, challenge centre programs would
no longer be available and there would be possibly be less School Support Worker
assistance for special needs learners. The challenges are numerous and I am hopeful that
the deficit total will shrink in the next few weeks and reductions that need to be made
be kept as far as possible from our students.
The VSB is holding public consultation meetings regarding the deficit and proposals on
April 12 at Van Tech Secondary School at 7:00 pm and on April 14 at the VSB at 5:00 pm.
Final deliberations will be made on April 28. For more budget related information and
documents please visit the VSB webpage.
Also on the VSB web page is summer school registration information. Students planning
on participating in this program need to be aware that registration begins on May 2 and
that students are limited to one Ministry funded program and must register in their
current grade level as of June 30, 2016. In order to register, students need their Personal
Education Numbers which are available from your child’s teacher.
From January to March 2016, the VSB invited staff, students and the public to get
involved in the first phase of their 5- year Strategic Plan update resulting in the creation
of 4 key themes and directional statements. Phase 2 – “Setting Directions, Making
Choices” is now underway. The VSB is seeking input on the 4 themes and is providing
more opportunity for public feedback in the form of surveys and an evening session at
Templeton Secondary School on April 21. As well, each school will be providing an
opportunity for parents to provide input. At Hudson, a parent session is planned for
Wednesday April 27 at 6:00 pm in the library. The discussion session will be 1 hour in
length and will be facilitated by myself. If you plan on attending, please let the office
know.
Sincerely,
Ian Cannon
Principal
Overview of Upcoming
Activities & Events
 Friday, Apr 8 - Kits grade 8
articulation team at
Hudson
 Tuesday, Apr 12 – Gr 4 to
7 Internet Safety Session
 Thursday, Apr 14 – Div 1
field trip (Reel 2 Real)
 Friday, Apr 15 and
Monday, April 18 – No
school in session
 Tuesday, Apr 19 – School
assembly at 9:15am
 Wednesday, Apr 20 –
Follow-up Audiology
testing for Kindergarten
students only
 Wednesday, Apr 27 – Div 3
field trip to Science World
HENRY HUDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
April 2016 Newsletter
Page 2
Some Classroom Highlights
Division 1 is looking forward to their field trip to the “Reel to Real” film festival later this month at the
Roundhouse Community Centre. In math the class is working on ratios, rates and percentage. The class has
also just started a drama unit.
Division 2 is learning the scientific method and are conducting different hands-on experiments each week. The
class is also starting their egg baby project in which the students will take care of their own baby for a week or
longer.
This term Division 4 will be learning about the water cycle, air and soil. We are also practicing alliteration. Some
examples we have are: Sharky Shark sees some salmon that are swimming by, by Alex Zou. Wally Walrus wiggles
on Wednesday, by Nicholas Leonov. Benjamin Bear begins to bring books to the basement, by Mathew Sinclair.
Tommy Turtle tugs on Thomas tuna’s tail, by Rory Ziants. Happy Hippopotamus hates to be horrible at his house,
by Mackenzie Patel.
Division 5 students enjoyed a visit from our school nurse on the first week back. They learned about healthy
eating and participated in engaging games to learn about nutrition.
Division 6 is eagerly anticipating a response from the letters they wrote to author Robert Munsch. Our class is
learning about different ways they can help the environment and is looking forward to celebrating Earth Day on
April 22. We are also excited to welcome our two new students: Amalia and Mais!
Division 9 will be exploring the features of plants and how they grow. We will also be finished learning all the
letters of the alphabet by the end of the month.
Division 10F is designing and building vehicles to protect eggs from the laws of inertia! They will be testing their
vehicles on Monday.
Division 11F is working in collaborative groups on an extreme environments science project. The students will
become experts in their chosen environment and then will presenting their knowledge to their classmates.
Division 12F has started “Mindfulness” exercises. The students say the exercises assist them in relaxing and
dealing with stress. In math, the class is working with decimals and fractions, in writing they are learning to
write paragraphs with main ideas and supporting details.
Division 13F recently held a successful bake sale raising just over $400 to purchase several rockets which will be
launched in June. In science, the class is currently working on a plants and seeds unit.
The students of division 14F are excitedly working on a compliment project with the Youth and Family Worker,
Pauline Holder. The goal of the project is to promote positive friendship behaviours and a positive classroom
culture.
HENRY HUDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
April 2016 Newsletter
Page 3
Yearbook and Panorama School Photo Order Information
The Hudson 2015-2016 Yearbook is available for order directly from Lifetouch. To order a copy of the yearbook,
order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com. Team, service and club photos are included in the yearbook, the cost is
$12 per book and orders need to be received no later than April 27, 2016. To order the school panorama photo
or the Grade 7 photo, please visit www.lifetouchevents.com and use the guest password: henryhudson16. The
photo will be mailed directly to your home.
School Sports
Badminton Team News
This year Henry Hudson has two enthusiastic badminton teams, a Grade 6 Team with 7 students and a Grade 7
team with 14 students! We have finished our second week of tournaments playing against other schools. We
have also started our Badminton Ladder, where students challenge each other to improve their skills and move
up the ladder!
A reminder to everyone to be on time for practices! Practices are Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8am.
Upcoming games:
Thursday, April 14th
Grade 7 @ Hudson vs Cavell B
Grade 6 @ Roberts
Thursday, April 21st
Grade 7 @ Hudson vs False Creek
Grade 6 @ Elsie Roy
Thursday, April 28th
Grade 7 @ Elsie Roy
Grade 6 @ Hudson vs Cavell A
The city tournament will be at Tupper Secondary the week of May 1st (TBA)

It's not too late to join the team; more Grade 6 and 7 students are welcome to come to practices!
Library News
The Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! A huge thank you to all the volunteers, parents and students who
helped organize, set up and run the Book Fair this year. A cash credit of $900 was earned that will go to funding
the school library.
This month in the library, classes who visit on a weekly basis have been watching the live streaming Heron
Nesting Cam located in Stanley Park. To watch the nesting activity go to: Hudson.vsb.bc.ca>Library>”Watch the
Heron Cam in Stanley Park”
HENRY HUDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
April 2016 Newsletter
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World Book Day on April 22, 2016 – the Hudson community is a community of book lovers – from students to
staff to parents – we all value the importance of books and the enjoyment and learning we receive from books.
This year, we would love to create a photo montage of families reading together – parents sharing your favourite
storybook from your childhood or students sharing their favourite book.
Send your photos to [email protected] and we will create a photo montage on our school website showing our
love of books.
Peer Mentors
The group recently had their appreciation pizza lunch. The Kindergarten teachers joined the students and
thanked them for service with the Kindergarten students. Peer mentors shadow the Kindergarten students at
recess and lunch from September to the end of April. Some of the grade 7 mentors also provide coverage in
the office at recess and lunch. The students work under the guidance of Mme. Boyd. Their service is truly
appreciated.