PACER PRESS - Elementary Edition August 2013 The text heavy, information edition :)
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL - SEPTEMBER 3, 2013!! School will resume on Tuesday, September 3 with a full day of school for all students in Grades 1-7. Kindergarten and PreSchool children will have a gradual entry for the first week, as per the schedules sent home by their teachers (below). The Elementary School will start with Opening Day Chapels on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the Victoria Christian Reformed Church right beside the school. All parents, especially new families to PCS, are encouraged to come and join us. Opening Chapel for K-4 students plus Pre-School is at 8:30 a.m. At this time, Grade 5-7 students will go directly to their classrooms. Opening Chapel for Grades 5-7 will be at 10:45 am. On Sept. 3rd, please check the class lists on the doors of the church or outside the school office, so that all students will know which classrooms to go to. Please note that Kindergarten & Grade 1 students are invited to a special Open House on Friday, Aug.30 from 1:00-2:00 to see their new classrooms, and to meet their teachers and classmates for next year. Students should bring all their school supplies for their first full day of school. Packages will be available at school for all those who pre-ordered them. KINDERGARTEN & PRE-SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES:
Kindergarten- Opening Week: Children from both kindergarten classes are invited to the Opening Day Chapel and then following chapel can go directly to their classrooms for a visit. Gradual entry sessions and regular classes will begin as per letters sent home earlier by the Kindergarten teachers.
The next New Parent Information Seminar for parents and families new to PCS will be held on Wednesday, September 4th from 7:00—9:30 pm in the secondary school library. Parents who have registered since May, or who missed the spring seminars, are reminded that attendance at this seminar is mandatory for all parents new to PCS.
Pre-School – Opening Week: Pre-School children and their parents are invited to the Opening Day Chapel on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. After chapel, they should go home with their parents and return for their classes as per the letter sent home earlier by Mrs. Joanne Brown. With our delayed entry system, smaller groups of children will come with their parents for the first week. Classes will start their regular schedules as per the letters sent home separately.
Elementary Meet the Teacher Night is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12th (7:00 pm–8:30pm) for Kindergarten through Grade 7. We look forward to all parents attending this important and worthwhile evening. There will also be Night League Basketball registration that evening.
EARLY START // LATE START PROGRAM This innovative program, introduced last year, will commence right away during the first week of school in September. Although it is a significant professional development initiative for staff members, the key implication for parents and students is that school will start later every Wednesday (at 9:10) for K-12, starting on Wednesday, Sept.4th. The school buses will also run a later schedule (by 40 minutes) on Wednesdays.
Welcome Back to School BBQ All new and returning families entering grades K-12 are invited to the annual Welcome Back to School event. We’ve got hot dogs and hamburgers, but please bring your own lawn chairs. Come on out and mingle with the PCS community and enjoy a fun evening. There will be a Jumping Castle & other inflatables, face painting and more! Date: Thursday, September 5th Time: 5:30-7:30 Place: Behind Elementary Gym & on the back field Cost: FREE
ELEMENTARY BITS & PIECES Grade 7 Clubs: We are again offering Grade 7 Clubs this year. In the past, we have had a great variety of clubs led by teachers, parents and grandparents. Clubs have included: chess, cooking, sewing, knitting, golf, mountain biking, triathlon, guitar, crafts, pingpong, self-defense, calligraphy and many more. We would love to offer a strings or orchestra club this year. If you are interested in volunteering to lead a club of your choice, and you are available from 1:20 to 2:05 on Wednesdays, even for just a few months, please contact Mr. Will Wild at the office. Band Instrument Rentals: We are hosting a Band Instrument Rental Night on Wednesday, Sept.4 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the elementary gym. This is especially important for all firstyear Grade 6 Band students, plus any Grade 7 Band students who will need to rent an instrument this year. School Photos are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept.24 (K-6) and Friday, Sept.20 (Gr.7 only). Retakes are Nov.6th. Milk Cards and “Munch Cards” (for Pizza, Hot Dogs, and snacks) can be purchased from classroom teachers when school starts. See order forms and calendar for the year included in this newsletter. Hot Dog Helpers: If you would like to volunteer to help out with the Hot Dog Program (every other Thursday), the coordinator — Marianne Loenen (250-881-8585), would love to hear from you. We’ll also take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting our this program. Our menu is in line with “Healthy Food Guidelines for BC Schools”. This greatly appreciated program has raised over $8000 per year, providing the funds for SmartBoards and other technology, our intermediate adventure playground, several school buses and vans, and other important projects. Donations for World Vision will be collected every Thursday during Hot Dog & Pizza days, although one-time donations for the year will also be accepted. Our Hot Lunch days are a good time to remember those less fortunate than us. All donations support the eight World Vision foster children that PCS sponsors, one per grade level. Additional funds will help support the Sanctuary Youth Centre in Victoria. Supervision Volunteers Needed: If you are interested in volunteering as a regular lunch hour supervisor (12:00—1:20), at morning recess times (10:15— 11:05), before school (8:10—8:30) or after school (2:55-3:20), before school on Wednesdays (7:45-8:45) or as an occasional substitute to support our staff supervision, please contact Mr. Will Wild, Assistant Principal. Even if you can only volunteer once a week, we’d appreciate hearing from you!
Special Note: At the start of a new school year, we draw your attention to a brief item in our Student Handbook that is very important to some of our staff and some students: “PCS is trying to meet the needs of students and staff members who have allergies, by asking parents and students to avoid the use of perfumes, after-shaves, and strongly scented shampoos.” Thank you in advance for your cooperation in addressing the needs of some in our school community. WELCOME BACK STAFF! We are grateful for the excellent teachers and support staff that the Lord has provided us, and we look forward to a positive partnership between parents and staff again this year. We will also welcome several new staff, particularly at the elementary campus. The PCS staff enjoyed a well-deserved vacation time over the summer. Many of them were involved in professional development activities, summer courses or conferences. Some spent time moving to a new classroom, updating curriculum, and reading professional journals and texts. We hope and pray that each staff member and student will return to school refreshed and renewed, ready for the exciting opportunities and challenges of this new school year. May the Lord richly bless our collective efforts to serve Him here at Pacific Christian School. CONGRATULATIONS GRAD CLASS OF 2013 With the ceremonies being held at the end of June, we can now extend our hearty congratulations to the Grade 7 Grad Class of 2013, the 53rd graduating class for Pacific Christian School. Congratulations to the three class speakers: 7A –Mackenzie Poland, 7B –Sarina Nordstrom, and 7C –Danielle Philipchalk– and especially to the co-winners of the Sheila Damude Memorial Award for Christian Character and Outstanding Service: Jamie Besteman, Kiya Demetruis and Kayla Hordyk. May the Lord bless and guide all the graduates as they enter secondary school this fall. Which Classroom will be mine? Which Teacher will I have? As the first day of school approaches, students wonder if they will be in their friend’s class and who their homeroom teacher will be. At the end of last school year, teachers with the counselor and other staff, met to make a careful initial division of classes. They looked for student combinations who will work well together, considering the academic, social, and emotional needs of each child. The first drafts are prepared by last year’s teachers, and then shared with the administration and the teachers for the next year. When the teachers return to school in August, the lists are reviewed one last time, considering any changes that have occurred over the summer. When everyone is satisfied that the wisest decisions possible have been made, the lists are finalized and posted. In cases where parents or students are disappointed, we trust that it is helpful to know how carefully these decisions have been made.
Print Shop Operator - Lydia Haight Maintenance Supervisor - Francis Welle Development Director - Chris Berghuis Development Coordinator - Irene Fennema Operations Director - David Bolink
Learning Assistance Teachers - Jackie Atkins (K-3/4), Greta Vander Wekken (4-6), Karen Erler (7) Educational Assistants (LA Dep’t) - Corry DeBoef, Lorraine Hawkes, Cindy O’Dell Enrichment - Ruth Rocklin Middle School Athletic Director(6-7) - Adam Price Physical Education (5-7) - Adam Price & Sean Rathburn Elementary Music - Sue Strauss (K-2), Jennifer Enns (3-5, + Choir 6) Middle School Band (6-7) - Joanne Allers French - Maria Porter (K-6), Bethany Dawes (7) Technology Coordinator - Doug Cook Computer Lab Assistant - Brenda Kalynchuk (T-W-Th) Librarian - Ruth Rocklin Library Aide - Eve Christensen Counselor - Darcy Harbour, 20%, Calea Lampard, 40%-counseling support
Educational Assistants (Special Ed Dep’t) Lisa Bekesza, Sandy Bergum, Jenna Blakemore, Joanne Brown, Dayna Clarke, Lianne Clarke, Michelle Cowan, Adena Cronk, Leslie Dayman, Sharon Foerster, Angela Foster, Theresa Gillespie, John Heard, Rita Henderson, Karen Jackson, Jennifer Kappers, Andrea Loussarian, Sharlene MacDonald, Kim Mazzulli, Samantha Mead, Dawn Mortenson, Catheryn Rogers, Shauna Vukovic
ELEMENTARY STAFF LIST / TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS 2013/ 2014
Preschool - Joanne Brown (EAs—Tara Howard, Yvonne Watt) Kindergarten—A - Lara Gates Kindergarten—B -Margaret Liira (W-F), Janet Simmonds (M-T) 1A - Mary Bomhof 1B - Lois Lampard 2A - Sigrid Albert 2B - Diane Hackett (M-W) & Sue Strauss (Th-F) 3A - Moyra Jordan (M,T,altF) & Diane Mann (W,Th,altF) 3B - Leean Harvie 3-4 - Jeanette Jackson (T-F), Rachel Goodwin (M) 4A - Anne Piedalue 4B - Shawn Taal 5A - Tiffany Hawkes 5B - Anna Welle (M,W,altF) & Pam Wild (T,Th,altF) 6A - Mindy Rathburn (M-W) & Alexa Mischuk (Th-F) 6B - Sean Rathburn 6C - Tom Snell 7A - Cheryl Byng (Gr.7 fundraising coordinator) 7B - Sonja Myhre (W-F) & Helena Van Eek (M-T) (+Darcy Harbour) 7C - Adam Price Principal - Bill Helmus Assistant Principals - Karen Erler (M-Th), Will Wild Secretaries - Donna Adams (M-W), Cherylin Deane (Th-F) Special Education Coordinators - Candis Gibbs & Liz Ullrich Occupational Therapist - Liz Ullrich Behaviour Support Coordinator - Renee White
Pacific Christian School - Elementary Campus 671 Agnes Street, Victoria BC V8Z 2E7 phone: 250-479-4532 web: www.PacificChristian.ca FB: www.facebook.com/yourPCS email format: firstname.lastname@pacificchristian.ca
26-30 - Staff Professional Week
2 - Internet Safety/Digital Citizenship Seminar (for parents, 7:00) 9 - CPABC Conference (Admin only) 10-11 - CTABC Teachers Convention-No Classes for Students 14 - Thanksgiving Day - School Closed
1 - Pastors’ Day 2 - SCSBC Board Leadership Conference (Board & Admin only) 6 - School Photo Retakes 8 - Local PD Day—No Classes for Students 8-9 - Calico Christmas Craft Fair 11 -Remembrance Day — School Closed 20 - V.C.E.S. Fall Society Meeting 29 -= First Term Report Cards go home
3-5 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (times/dates tbd) 10 & 11 - Secondary Christmas Concert (7-12, at VCRC, 7:00) 17 - K - Grade 6 Christmas Concerts (Glad Tidings, 12:30 & 7:00) 20 - Last day before Christmas Vacation (dismissal at noon)
CHRISTMAS BREAK
6 - School Resumes 27-31 - Secondary Exams
October
November December
Dec.21—Jan.5
January
September 2 - Labour Day—No Classes for Students 3 - School Opens 4 - New Parent Information Seminar (Band instrument rentals—6:00 pm) 5 - Welcome Back to School BBQ (5:30-7:30pm) 12 - Elementary/Middle “Meet the Teacher” Night (7:00-8:30) 12 - Night League Basketball registration (evening) 20 - School Photos (Grade 7) 23 - Grade 6 Immunizations 23-24 - Grade 7 Band Camp 24 - School Photo Day (Pre-School to Grade 6)
August
PCS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CALENDAR…..2013-2014
5 - New Parent Information Seminar (7:00-9:30) 5 - Grade 5 Science Fair (6:30-7:30) 14 - Second Term Report Cards go home
10 - BC Family Day—No Classes for Students 11 - Island PD Day -No Classes for Students 20 - Ready-Set-Learn Event (Pre-S & Kdgn Open House, 3:30-5:00) 21 - Open House Day (8:45-11:00)
16 - Student-led Conferences (K-5, 3:00-4:00 & 6:00-7:00) 18 - Good Friday — School Closed 21 - Easter Monday — School Closed 23-26 - Secondary School Play 25 - Grandparents’ Day (8:45-12:00) 30-May 2 - Spring CPABC Conference (admin only)
April May June
3 - Middle School Spring Fine Arts Night (Gr.6-7) 4-7 - Secondary Musical ?5 - VISAA Track & Field Meet (Gr.3-7)? 6 - PCS Golf Tournament @ Olympic View 9-12 - SALTS Trip (Gr.7B) 13 - Volunteer Appreciation Chapel 16-19 - SALTS Trip (Gr.7A & 7C) 20 - Primary (K-3) Sports Day (afternoon) 24 - Elementary Grade 7 Recognition Ceremony (4:00, VCRC) 25 - Last day for elementary (Final R-Cards go home) - ½ day 25 - Secondary Graduation (3:00, Glad Tidings Church)
1 - Junior Spring Concert (Gr.3-5) 1 - Grade 6 Immunizations 7 & 8 - Grade 7 Play 14 - New Parent Information Seminar (7:00-9:30) ?13 (or 15?) - PCS Track & Field Meet? 19 - Victoria Day - School Closed 28 - V.C.E.S. Spring AGM 29 - Secondary Band & Choir Night
31 - School Resumes
March 15—30………. SPRING BREAK
March
February
ELEMENTARY PIZZA/HOT DOG DAYS 2013-2014 September 12 Pizza January 9 Hot Dog April 3 Hot Dog 19 Hot Dog 16 Pizza 10 Pizza 26 Pizza 23 Hot Dog 17 Hot Dog 30 Pizza 24 Pizza October 3 Hot Dog February 6 Hot Dog May 1 Hot Dog 17 Hot Dog 13 Pizza 8 Pizza 24 Pizza 20 Hot Dog 15 Hot Dog 31 Hot Dog 27 Pizza 22 Pizza 29 Hot Dog November 7 Pizza March 6 Hot Dog June 5 Pizza 14 Hot Dog 13 Pizza 12 Hot Dog 21 Pizza 19 Pizza 28 Hot Dog December 5 Pizza 12 Hot Dog 19 Pizza
MUNCH CARDS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HOT LUNCH PROGRAM To purchase “Munch Cards” for the Elementary Hot Lunch Program, fill in the order form below and submit along with payment to your child’s homeroom teacher (make cheques payable to PCS). Fill in one order form for each child, however payment may be combined on one cheque (this is not mandatory, as cash will still be accepted on a weekly basis). Thank you.
PCS Elementary Munch Card STUDENT’S NAME: CLASS: CARDS Pizza ($2.00 each) Hot Dog ($1.75 each) Yogurt/Fruit-to-go ($.75 each) Milk ($1.25 each, avail Mon-Fri) (cheques payable to PCS)
HALF YEAR $20 (10 slices) $17.50 (10 hotdogs) $7.50 (10 desserts) $10 (10 milk)
Any special instructions: (e.g. only 1 slice per week, etc.):
WHOLE YEAR $40 (20 slices) $35 (20 hotdogs) $15 (20 desserts) $20 (20 milk) Total cheque.cash:
YOUR ORDER $ $ $ $