GORDON HAPPENINGS

It has been wonderful to have our students back after Spring Break, especially to see their faces! As you know, masks are now optional. Many of our students and staff are deciding to continue to wear them, and the office has extras for any student who would like one. We are continuing to take it slow and move towards a “new normal” for our school. The Gordon community has been showing kindness in accepting different opinions. Parents are still allowed to visit the school by appointment only.

We ask that parents continue to do the Daily Heath Check  and keep your child at home if they are sick. However, if your child has minor symptoms like a runny nose, (especially now during allergy season), minor headache or chronic cough and are able to do all regular activities/work and participate fully, then your child is allowed to come to school. These instructions are detailed for staff, parents, students and visitors in the VSB Communicable Disease Prevention Plan.

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce our four wonderful student teachers to Gordon who just started their long practicum and will be with us until the end of May. Camille Ryan with Mme. Wardrop, Emma Eng with Ms. Hargrave, Oliver Ng with Ms. Wilson, and Niki Mavromihalis with Mr. Carter. Welcome to Gordon and we are really happy to have you as part of our learning community!

The staff and teachers have been engaged in a number of activities that supports our commitment to engage in ongoing acts of reconciliation. With International Women’s Day in March and the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in May, the kindergarten students in Divs. 16 and 17 have been exploring picture books with female Indigenous protagonists. They discussed the impact words and actions can have. They created art work and read the book, You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith.

FAMILY SURVEY

We are excited to embark on the process of redoing our School Code of Conduct. The VSB is committed to fostering safe and caring schools that promote mutual respect, cooperation, social responsibility, and support optimal learning. Our School Code of Conduct strives to promote the creation and maintenance of a safe, inclusive, equitable, welcoming and nurturing school environment.

To create a document that encompasses the values and expectations of our school community, we are seeking input from our whole community including parents, guardians and other caregivers that care for and influence our students’ lives.

We would really appreciate you taking a moment of your time to fill out this survey, as well as to pass it along to other caregivers who you feel would like to participate. This survey is voluntary and your response is encouraged, not required, and is anonymous. At any time, you feel you do not wish to answer any of the questions, you can skip them. There is also space at the end of the survey where you can add any other information or comments you would like us to know. Please do not include any third-party information (e.g. talk about other specific people) or any personal information about yourself.

Please look for an email with the link to participate in the next week or so. We really appreciate you taking the time to help shape a safe and caring school environment here at Gordon.

MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

Our school counsellor, Helen Ritchie, has created a document that distinguishes the difference between peer conflict, mean behaviour and bullying. As part of our anti-bullying education we have been doing here at Gordon, we do a lot of work teaching students the difference between what constitutes bullying and what is peer conflict or mean behaviour. Please take a moment to read through this important information. Ms. Ritchie is at Gordon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternate Thursdays and can be reached at hritchie@vsb.bc.ca if you have any questions.

Click HERE for the direct link to the document on our school website.

STUDENT FEES FOR THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR

We will be keeping all of our basic school fees the same as last year. The Supply Fee will be $35, Agendas $7, Kindergarten Library Book Bags $10 and workbooks will be dependent on the classroom program.

CLASS & GROUP PHOTOS

We are excited to have Artona returning on Wednesday, April 6 to take class photos as well as sports teams and school clubs photos. Information will be sent home in a separate email after the photo day outlining how to order photos online.

 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Ms. Juric, our school librarian, is pleased to announce that the school made $300 in our first virtual Scholastic Book Fair. Sorry you missed it? Do not worry as we have another one coming up from May 2 to May 13! Order your books online and they are shipped directly to the school.

You can preview a number of great books ahead of time by clicking on the link below.

https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5173050

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Our regular childhood immunization clinic will take place on Friday, May 2. If your child is required to receive their immunization, you will receive a letter from our community health nurse, Emily Ho. These will be sent home with your child prior to the clinic. You can also contact her directly at emily.ho2@vch.ca if you have any questions.

VPL SPRING ACTIVITIES

Message from our local community library:

It was great to see so many kids at the library during Spring Break for programs and book borrowing. We’re now focused on our Spring Programs which will be starting soon!

There are still a few spots available in our April-June Reading Buddies program. Families can contact Kitsilano Branch at 604.665.3976 to register.

What is Reading Buddies?

Children in Grades 2-4 are matched with a “big buddy” teen mentor to practice reading aloud and participate in activities such as storytelling and games that make literacy fun.

Program Dates: Thursdays, April 14 – May 26 @ 3:45 p.m. (Kitsilano Branch)

VPL is also pleased to offer book clubs, creative writing programs, LEGO building parties and more! Find out more at www.vpl.ca/kids.