Newsletter #4 - February 3, 2021 |
School Goals:
- Personal Awareness and Social Responsibility (Health and Wellness)
- Numeracy (Students First)
- Student Engagement (Students First)
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Dear Falkland School Families,
It looks as though our mild winter weather will continue. It's wonderful to have some sun in the forecast, even if it's accompanied with clouds. We certainly appreciate all you do to ensure your children are dressed for the mucky, wet weather. In addition to splash/snow pants to keep children warm and dry, an extra pair of water resistant mittens are helpful as they do not necessarily have a chance to dry between recess and lunch play time.
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our 14 students attending our District's Educational Outreach Program (EOP) all the best. Please contact the school when you are ready to return. We will be more than happy to have you back. Rest assured we will contact you if space becomes an issue at our school.
At this time we have 10 students registered for kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have a child going into kindergarten or know of a family in the area with a child turning 5 before January 2022, please encourage them to contact our office at 250-379-2320 to register.
Also, our StrongStart Program is open on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-11 by appointment only. Please click here to access our StrongStart Facebook Page. If you would like to attend this parent participatory program for children 0-5, please contact our fabulous facilitator Christy "Conch" Konschuh at 250-379-2320.
A reminder that students do not attend school on Friday, February 12th. This is a regional Professional Development Day for teachers. Monday, February is BC's Family Day. I sure hope you enjoy this special day with immediate family and can find ways to connect safety with extended family as per the restrictions in BC's most recent Public Health Order. Stay safe everyone.
Keeping parents informed is important to us at Falkland School. There are several ways we keep parents informed of the happenings at our school: e-newsletters, weekly emails, our website, and Facebook. Posts on our website automatically go on our Facebook page so please LIKE or FOLLOW US on Facebook. You can always call myself or Dani at the school (250-379-2320); we are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cull
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Formal Report Card #2 - February 26th |
Our second formal report (first written report) will be available to parents on February 26th. This is a new reporting format for us. We hope you like it. It contains the same information, just organized a bit differently. |
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Thank you for your support at home with helping provide opportunities for your child to work toward their personal goal set at the November reporting conference. At school we continue to be working with students on their goals and helping them participate in the collection of evidence as they progress. |
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Thanks to the following parents for taking on executive positions with PAC.
President: Adina Clements
Vice President: Megan Jackson
Treasurer: Mami Peterman
Secretary: Rebecca McDougall
Directors: Trisha McLean, Shelby Jacobi, Jodi Boland
DPAC rep: Jill Pruner
Hot Lunch Coordinator: Trisha McLean
Next PAC meeting is tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 3rd on TEAMS. A link has been sent to parents by email to access the online meeting on TEAMS. Click here to open instructions on how to access a meeting on TEAMS on a mobile or desktop without signing in.
Please contact Adina Clements (250-463-5750) or Shelly Cull (250-833-2806 or 250-379-2320) to discuss ways you can get involved with PAC and contribute to your child's school experience.
TREAT DAYS for STUDENTS:
PAC expressed interest in providing a treat for our students at the end of each month at no cost to parents. Led by Trisha McLean, our Hot Lunch Coordinator, treat options will be purchased pre packaged and provided to students by their teacher on the last day of each month.
Our next treat day is Friday, February 26th. If you choose to have your child not participate, please call and let the office know.
CANDY GRAMS FUNDRASIER -
If you OR your child would like to send students or staff at our school a candy gram for Valentine's Day, please click here to access the order form. Due Monday, February 8th. See pic below for an example of what our candy grams will include. |
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PAC MEETING DATES:
Wednesday, February 3
Wednesday, March 3
Wednesday, April 7
Wednesday, May 5
Wednesday, June 2
Tell your Friends and Family....
If you shop at Cobs Bread in Vernon and mention that you are supporting Falkland School, 5% of your purchase will be donated back to Falkland PAC.
FlipGive
Looking for an easy way to support the PAC? Try online shopping. Download the FlipGive app and continue to shop at your usual favourite stores. Join our team now using our invite code KBQVBV in one of two ways:
- Click here to download the FlipGive app.
- Click here to Join online or to acquire more information.
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Our PAC meeting agendas, minutes, Treasurer's Reports and Principal's Reports can be found here.
CHICKEN FUNDRAISER - Sterling Springs
Thank you for supporting our PAC and their fundraising efforts. Please pick up your orders at the Sterling Springs store starting Monday, February 1st. See here for details.
SHUSWAP COFFEE FUNDRAISER - Click here to access the order form. Due Wednesday, February 10th.
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Our PAC group and staff are working to raise money to improve our outdoor space. We are looking to expand the seating area at the front of the school to include 2 more blue tables. We are looking to resurface our basketball court, build a covered structure as well as naturalize some parts of the play area. If you have ideas to improve our space or suggestions on grants or fundraising ideas, please contact Shelly Cull or Adina Clements, our PAC President. |
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Grant Received from WWF Go Wild |
Thanks to Ms. Monique Richoux for her efforts in securing $500 for plants/trees to start the naturalizing plan for our outdoor space. Falkland School has been awarded one of @WWFCanada's Go Wild School Grants. This Spring, we'll be planting indigenous plants in part of the school yard as the start of our very own forest space. Stay tuned to hear more about how we're helping nature thrive with #WWFGoWild! |
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Foundational Skills Assessment
Students in grade 4 and 7 participate in a Foundational Skills Assessment each year. Initially, the assessment was postponed from October to January 18th. It has been postponed again until February 16th and will be open until March 12th. Please click here to view information posted on our website.
Parents and students can access a sample assessment to develop familiarity with the assessment. The numeracy, writing and reading tasks are written by teachers in BC and are aligned with our BC curriculum. Click here to view the sample assessments.
Click here to view more information from the Ministry of Education regarding this assessment.
If you have questions about the assessment, scoring process, or results please contact Mrs. Cull at the office. All students are expected to write this assessment unless excused by the Principal. You can learn more about the criteria used to excuse students here. If you do not wish your child to participate, please ask Principal, Shelly Cull for the administration schedule and parents can choose to keep their children home during the assessment. This data is viewed by district staff and school staff and it is important that when we view our results, all students are included. This data is also a piece of what is viewed at our SIP meeting in May in which all staff, parent reps and student reps take part. |
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Student Learning Survey - Grade 4 and 7 students and parents |
The Provincial Student Learning Survey is unique in its scope, size and usefulness to schools. It gathers information from parents/guardians/caregivers, teachers and students on topics related to school environment, safety, and achievement. The information is used for planning in individual schools and provides a district and provincial perspective.
At the start of April the Student Learning Survey will be administered to students in grades 4 and 7, their parents/guardians/caregivers, and all school staff. The surveys contain standard questions for the Province. The survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey. Any computer with an Internet connection can be used, and access to the e-survey is simple and secure.
The survey can be accessed through the link without a logon code. Please select the school district and school name where your child attends school. The e-survey site will be open until April 30th.
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Middle Years Development Inventory - Grade 5 and 8 |
Mrs. Cull has presented the results from last year's survey to students in division 1 and 2. Last year the MDI survey was administered to students in grades 4 and 7. This year the survey will be administered to students in grade 5 and 8.
Results of this survey is also part of what is viewed at our SIP planning meeting in May in which all staff, parent reps and student reps take part.
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We are excited to announce that Amy Witt, SOGI- Sexual Health Support Teacher in SD83 will be presenting to students at Falkland School on the sexual health component of the Physical and Health Education Curriculum. |
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Amy Witt will be at our school on Tuesday, February 23rd to talk to students in grades 6/7/8 on the topic of SOGI - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. This is a topic not only part of their curriculum for this grade group, but also requested by students. Amy will return on Thursday, March 4th and 11th to provide lessons to students in grade 4, Division 2 (Grade 5/6) and Division 1 (Grade 6/7/8). |
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Pink Shirt Day - Wed. February 24th |
Encouraging students to do the right thing at all times in all spaces at our school is something Falkland School staff work hard at. KINDNESS matters and having the moral courage to stand up to those who can be unkind is important. While all bullying is unkind, not all unkindnesses are bullying. Students are encouraged to wear a pink shirt on Wednesday, February 24th in support of kindness.
Please review this important video on what it means to be an UPSTANDER. |
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FALKLAND SCHOOL | 5756 TUKTAKAMIN ROAD, FALKLAND BC
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