ARROWVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
650 Bennett Road, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1N1
Phone: (250) 752-3875
Fax: (250) 752-7291
Website: http://aes.sd69.bc.ca
Principal: Mrs. Sheila Morrison
Email: [email protected]
Vice-Principal: Mrs. Lisa Pedersen-Skene
Email: [email protected]
September 27, 2016
Principal’s Message
It was wonderful to see so many families attend the “Meet the Teacher” evening last
week! Your child’s teacher will be a significant person in his/her life this year, so it’s a good
idea for you to build a positive, strong bond. That way, you can work together, share
information, and head off any problems that may come up. Thank you to our AES PAC for
providing the treats for this event!
This year at AES, we will continue to work on our school-wide goal of social
responsibility. In particular, we will focus on solving problems in peaceful ways and learning
a variety of self-regulation and self-monitoring strategies. I will be including articles in our
newsletters that suggest ways that families can promote social responsibility at home.
Recently, our staff updated our pillars that form the basis for all of our expectations. They
are:



We are SAFE
We are RESPECTFUL
We are RESPONSIBLE
Along with these pillars, we encourage our students to take care of themselves, take care of
each other, and take care of our place. The article below suggests some ways to set the
stage for success by promoting respect at school:
Respectful behavior is just as important at school as it is at home. Encourage your
child to show respect at school by:





Source:
Being courteous. He should say please and thank you to his teacher and classmates.
Doing what’s expected. Everyone in school has a job to do. If the teacher doesn’t
plan lessons, no one can learn anything. If students don’t do their jobs – homework,
listening to the teacher – it makes it harder for everyone to learn.
Raising his hand. Imagine having 30 students in a class, each of whom wants
attention right now. When your child raises his hand and waits for the teacher to call
on him, he demonstrates self-control and respect for others.
Addressing the teacher by name. Just saying “good morning, Mrs. Jones” is an easy
way to show respect.
Listening to the teacher’s comments. Teachers want students to learn. That means
they have to point out mistakes. Your child will do much better in school if he can
recognize and accept constructive feedback.
Elementary School Parents
October 2016
Vol.28, No.2
Coffee with Trustees
This is a reminder that we have our first opportunity of the year to have coffee with trustees
after school today for those who are interested, in the AES library.
The Board of Education of School District 69 (Qualicum) recognizes that not everyone can make it out to regular or
special Board meetings held in the evenings. Therefore, the Board will be continuing to hold ‘Coffee with Trustees’ at
each school site during the school year. ‘Coffee with Trustees’ is an avenue to keep conversations relevant and
engaging while providing another opportunity for parents, students and staff to meet and talk with the trustees to share
any ideas or concerns. Arrowview Elementary School will be hosting Coffee with Trustees on Tuesday, September 27,
2016, at dismissal time.
Picture Day
A reminder that Lifetouch will be here to take individual school
photos tomorrow (Wednesday, September 28th). Order forms
were sent home with students last week.
Terry Fox and Tour de Rock
Students will be participating in Terry Fox and Tour de Rock this Thursday, September 29th in
the afternoon. This year, students will be collecting donations for both the Terry Fox
Foundation and the Cops for Cancer/Tour de Rock organizations. Donations will be split
evenly between those organizations, which both support cancer research. Students will be
bringing home a sheet where they will display their donations
in a “Coin-Cycle”. More details are
listed on the coin sheet. We are
looking for volunteers on the
afternoon of September 29th. If you
are interested in helping along the
run route, please contact the
office.
Parent Teacher Conferences
There are changes this year in the way our school district will be organizing parent-teacher
conferences in the fall and spring. Between October 11th and October 28th, AES teachers will
be meeting with parents. There is no selected evening/morning as in past years. Teachers
are providing their availability and we will be using our online booking system (as we did last
year) to arrange appointments. We hope this system will provide more flexibility and enable
all parents to meet with their child’s teacher at some point during this range of dates. The
online booking system should be available by October 3rd. Information on how to use this
booking system will be sent home in the near future. Please note that October 20th is a
“Conferencing Adjustment Day”, where students do not attend. Conferences will not be
scheduled on this day.
Report Cards/Communicating Student Learning
As you are most likely aware, our province has restructured the Kindergarten through Grade
9 curriculum and we are in full implementation this year. We will be providing more
background on the way the curriculum is structured. Detailed information can be found by
searching “Building Student Success” on the Ministry of Education website.
We are in a transition period in terms of Report Cards, or “Communicating Student Learning”.
The Ministry of Education has provided school districts with the flexibility to determine how this
communication of student learning will take place. Throughout this school year, our school
district will be developing a new Report Card, which will reflect the restructured curriculum.
In the meantime, our plan for Report Cards will be different from previous years. We will NOT
be sending a report card home in the fall. We will be providing 2 formal Report Cards during
this school year – one at the end of January and one at the end of June.
Teachers take great pride in their work with their students and will continue to connect with
you in a variety of ways throughout the year – through class newsletters, student planners
and home folders, phone calls, emails, informal conversations, and the 2 parent/teacher
conference opportunities during the year. Some teachers are learning about and trying out
electronic portfolios (through either FreshGrade or Scholantis) this year as another way of
communicating student learning.
We encourage you to establish an ongoing mode of communication with your child’s
teacher so that you can understand where your child is at with various aspects of their
learning, what challenges he/she is facing, and where to go next with learning. We
appreciate your support as we work through this important transition year.
Fire Safety Week
Fire prevention week runs from October 10-15 this year. The
Qualicum Beach Fire Department will be visiting AES classes on
Tuesday, October 11th. To end the school week, they will select a
student to be “Fire Chief for a Day” on Friday October 14th.
There will be an open house for the whole family at the new
Qualicum Beach Fire Station on Saturday October 15th from 10:003:00. The open house will offer station tours, demonstrations and a
visit from Sparky the Fire Dog. They will also be providing hot
chocolate and hot dogs.
Reporting Student Absents
When reporting your child’s absence you can either call the office at 250-752-3875 (after hours
you can leave a message on our answering machine) or email [email protected].
It is important to let the office know if your child will be late or not attending school for the
day(s) so your child is accounted for. It only takes a minute. If your child is not at school or late
you can expect to receive a call to your main number. Thank you in advance for reporting
early!
Traffic Expectations
We would like to remind parents who are parking in the lower
lot and walking up to the school to please keep your
child(ren) with you when crossing through the gravel areas.
The same goes for parents who are using the parallel parking
option by the trees across from the drop-off/pick-up loop. We
ask that you keep your child with you and walk around the
side instead of cutting through the gravel loop where traffic is
usually steady.
If you are using the drop-off/pick-up loop, we ask that you
develop a routine with your child after school where your child walks across the crosswalk
and waits on the grassy area for you to drive around the loop and pull-over. When students
are already waiting, it eliminates the need to circle around the lot again.
We would like to suggest some staggered drop-off and pick-up times. If you have an older
child at AES, we encourage you to wait until just before 3:00 to pick-up after school. You will
notice that most of the congestion is gone by then. At 3:00, there is a bell that rings to alert
younger students (Kindergarten to Grade 3) to report to the office to make a phone call
home. For parents who like to stay and play with their children in the school yard after
school, we ask that you come a bit later (between 2:55 and 3:00) to avoid the congestion.
Please note that staff supervision will begin at 8:36am and ends at 3:07pm
Volunteering
At A.E.S we love to have volunteers in our school! If you would
like to help out in the classroom, library, go on fieldtrips or help on
our P.A.C. please fill out a criminal record form available in the
A.E.S. office. It is simple to do! Just fill out the form and bring to
the R.C.M.P. office in Parksville. If you bring in the letter template
indicating it is for Arrowview Elementary School, it is free. This
needs to be done once during your years at AES. Due to privacy
laws, you must complete the Criminal Record Search separately
for each organization you are involved with. It is best to take care of this now so that you can
support throughout the year.
Peanut/Nut Aware
This year we have students in our school who could have a potentially life threatening
reaction to peanut butter and other tree nuts. It is extremely important to the students
involved that their classrooms and other shared areas are kept safe from crosscontamination. We ask that the school community share the responsibility to contribute to a
safe environment for these students. A wide variety of lunch and snack products are readily
available at local grocery stores, as are alternatives to these types of food. We ask all
parents to discuss with their child about not sharing their snacks with other children and the
danger that peanut and other tree nuts pose to students with this allergy. A special
newsletter will go home to classes that have a student with an allergy. Your understanding
and cooperation is vital and appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact the
office.
Headlice
It’s that time of year – headlice is back in town! A reminder to parents to
start checking your child(ren)’s head and let’s be preventative. If in need,
the school does have lice combs and pamphlets describing the
recommended treatment – just ask at the office. Information is posted on our website, in the
General Information section.
Inside Shoes
Now that we are experiencing fall weather on the west coast, it is
extremely important for students to have a pair of inside shoes to
change into when inside the building. These shoes are also used
for gym use.
Drop in Gym Starts Monday September 19th
Wed 3:00-4:45 pm at Qualicum Commons and Mon/Thu
3:00-5:00 pm at former Parksville Elementary
Schedules posted online: rdn.bc.ca/recreation
Grade 5 & 6’s
get your FREE Grade 5 unlimited active living card or
Grade 6 10x active pass.
Get yours today and enjoy free admission to drop-in gym,
public swims and skates at Ravensong Aquatic Centre and
Oceanside Place Arena. Valid to August 31, 2017
MHL-My Hockey League 6-10yrs
Players learn basic hockey skills and play mini games. Full
gear is required.
Oceanside Place Arena
T, Sep 27-Nov 29
4:00-5:00p
$84
5409
Horne Lake Canoe Tour
Join us for a new twist on a nature walk; a nature paddle.
A brief introductory canoe lesson will start you off, no
experience necessary. All canoes, safety equipment and
transportation to and from Oceanside Place Arena are
provided. Children 10 years+ can register with an adult.
Sat, Oct 1
9:00a-1:30p
$52
5574
Cartooning 7-16yrs
Learn to draw characters from your favourite shows and
comics. Create your own creatures, heroes, villains and
worlds.
Qualicum Commons
Sat, Oct 22-Nov 12
1:00-3:00pm $70
5365
Bowser Elementary School
W, Oct 12-Nov 16
3:00-4:30p
$70
5528
Emergency Preparedness Workshop
After an earthquake, the first few hours will be critical.
This workshop is especially relevant for families with
school aged children, careers and those who regularly
spend several hours away from their homes for work.
W, Oct 12
6:30-8:30p
Free with registration
Acrylic Painting 8-12yrs
Learn how to let the paint do the work. In 3 hrs learn how
to paint a fantastic acrylic painting.
Qualicum Commons
Th, Oct 27-Nov 3
3:30-5:00p
$30
5541
Th, Nov 17-24
3:30-5:00p
$30
5542
Tinker Thinker Club 7-11yrs
Bring your ideas to life: make an electronic circuit build a
vehicle or other project.
Qualicum Commons
M, Oct 17-Dec 5
3:15-5:00p
$47
5456
Adaptive Gymnastics 5-18yrs
This class supports children with a variety of attention,
learning and motor concerns.
Parksville Elem School
T, Nov 1-Dec 13
5:45-6:30p
$77
5335
Events
Teen Swims 13-18 yrs
Teen Swims at Ravensong Aquatic Centre are Fridays from
7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Pro-D Day Freezie Swim
Fri Oct 21
1:30-2:30p
Reduced Rate
Pro D Day Everyone Welcome Skates
Th Oct 20
1:30-3:00p
Regular admission
Fr Oct 21
1:30-3:00p
Regular admission
Mini Golf Event for Youth and Adult
This annual event is a chance for youth 11-18 years and
adults 55 years+ to connect over a game of mini golf. The
event is free courtesy of Paradise Adventure Mini Golf.
Tu Sep 27,
4:00-6:00p
Free with registration
Parksville Lion’s and Save-On-Foods Free Family Skate
This popular session is back starting October 2nd. Children
must be accompanied by an adult, 19yrs+. Pond hockey is
not available during this session. Come skating at
Oceanside Place Arena on Sundays, from 12:15 to 1:45
pm. Free Event.
Mother Goose Family Swim
Bring your little ducklings to Ravensong Aquatic Centre to
swim and play for a couple of hours on Saturday, October
8th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Enjoy rhymes and songs
and a visit with Mother Goose. Regular admission.
IMMUNIZATION FOR GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Your child is eligible to have vaccines in your local school!
Did you know that children in Grade 6 are eligible for
Publicly Funded vaccines? Parksville Public Health
nurses will come to your school and vaccinate your child
against common communicable diseases; but first we
need your permission.
Your child will receive a consent package from your
school. Please open that package and read the form “How
to Complete the Consent Form for Grade 6
Immunizations”. Follow the directions carefully and
remember to sign and date for each vaccine. If you did not
receive a package ask your school for one or contact
Parksville Public Health.
We need you to return your consent package to your
school as soon as possible to get ready for our clinic.
Opting out of vaccines for your child? We respect your
decision. Please fill out the consent form and indicate that
you would not like the vaccines; you can say “yes” for one
and “no” for another or “no thanks” for all. We do not
vaccinate children in Grade 6 if we do not have parental
consent. Just let us know.
Not sure how to fill out your form? Call us! Not sure what
your child needs? Call us!
If there are questions or concerns related to your child’s
record we will contact you directly.
Contact Jody or Jill at 250 947-8242, extension 39165.
IMMUNIZATION FOR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS
Parksville Family Place is extending an invitation to
parents with children in Kindergarten to contact our office
if they would like their child to complete their school entry
immunizations. The majority of children attending
kindergarten clinics have two immunizations, one for
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio booster and the
second for a combined MMR (measles mumps rubella)
and Varicella (Chickenpox) booster. More vaccines may
be offered for children not complete for their earlier
immunizations or for children previously immunized out of
province. Please call Parksville Family Place at 250-9478242 for more information regarding booking an
appointment.
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 69
(QUALICUM)
2016/17 Regular Public Meetings of the
Board of Education
The Regular Public Board Meetings of the Qualicum School
District’s Board of Education are held on the fourth Tuesday
of each month during the 2016/17 school year. These
meetings are business meetings of the Board which are held
in public.
Two exceptions are the August Board Meeting which will be
held on Tuesday, August 30th, (to be followed by the annual
elections for the Chairperson & Vice Chairperson of the
Board) and the December Board Meeting, which will be held
on Tuesday, December 13th. There is no meeting held in
July.
The meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Forum of the
Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, 100 Jensen Avenue
East, Parksville. The full schedule of Board Meetings can
be found on the school district website at www.sd69.bc.ca
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 69
(QUALICUM)
Voluntary Student Accident Insurance
To Parents/Guardians:
The Qualicum School District does not insure expenses for
student injuries that occur on school grounds or during school
activities. Those expenses are the responsibility of the
parent/guardian unless the School Board is proven liable for
an injury.
Therefore, the Board of Education encourages all parents to
obtain student accident insurance, either through their own
insurance agent or through a private insurance plan.
The Board of Education provides the opportunity for families
to voluntarily purchase student insurance through the Kids
PlusTM Accident Insurance Voluntary Plan, underwritten by
Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
During the first week of school, all students will receive a
brochure to bring home containing information about the
voluntary insurance plan. Extra copies will be available at
each school. For more information or to apply online, please
visit kidsplus.ca.
School District 69
(Qualicum)
2016/17 Transportation Fee
Refunds for Eligible Riders
On August 10, the Ministry of Education announced new
funding to “make transportation more affordable and
accessible for B.C. families”.
The ongoing funding is intended to be used for improving
services, improving access, boosting student safety, funding
of existing transportation services and investing the saving in
enhanced student services.
Further to the Ministry’s announcement, at its August 30th
Regular Board Meeting, the Board of Education of School
District No. 69 (Qualicum) approved the elimination of
transportation fees for eligible riders, effective
immediately. All riders must still register and be issued
a bus pass.
Refunds will be provided to those families which have
already paid fees for eligible riders for the 2016/17 school
year. Refund cheques will be available to the original
payee for pick up at the Board Office after September 15th.
Cheques not picked up by September 22nd will be mailed.
The
registration
process
for
School
Transportation is otherwise unchanged.
Bus
For further questions regarding this change, please call the
School Board Office at 250-248-4241.
AES Calendar of Events
September
October
27
Coffee with Trustees in the AES library at 2:50pm
28
School Photo Day – Individual Photos
28
Instrument Rental Night for Band Students
29
Tour de Rock and Terry Fox Run (after lunch)
30
First Hot Lunch Day of the school year (for those who have ordered)
10
THANKSGIVING DAY – No School
11-28
Parent-Teacher Conferences begin (more information will come)
20
Conferencing Adjustment Day – No School
21
Professional Development Day – No School
25
Grade 6 Immunizations
27
Photo Retake Day
9
Remembrance Day Assembly – Time TBA
10
Curriculum Implementation Day – No School
11
REMEMBRANCE DAY - No School
30
Indigenous Winter Celebration at the Parksville Civic Centre 5:00pm – 9:00pm
15
AES Winter Concert – afternoon and evening times to be determined
16
Last day of school before the Winter Break
January
3
School Reopens after Winter Break
February
13
BC FAMILY DAY
24
Professional Development Day – No School
10
Last day of school before the Spring Break
27
School Reopens after Spring Break
14
GOOD FRIDAY – No School
17
EASTER MONDAY – No School
18
Conferencing Adjustment Day - No School
25
Grade 6 Immunizations
19
Professional Development Day – No School
22
VICTORIA DAY – No School
8
Indigenous Year-end Celebration at the Parksville Civic Centre 5:00pm – 9:00pm
29
Last day of sessions, school ends 3 hours early (11:47)
November
December
March
April
May
June
**Please note the above calendar will be updated as new events occur**