GORDON HAPPENINGS

Students and Staff have settled into their new classes and are enjoying their new learning environments.  It was great to see everyone at our Meet the Teacher night. I would like to invite all NEW families to Gordon to the school on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 pm for a chance to hear about some of the things that happen throughout the year as well as ask any burning questions you might have. We will meet in the library.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce some new staff members to Gordon.  Welcome to our new teacher, Taylor McPherson (Kindergarten) and Kerri Smith (Counsellor) and welcome back to Kyla MacDonald (Teacher Librarian), and Adrian Prime (SSA) .  Lastly, I would like to welcome Alda Munro who as our new Supervision Aid.

Though we are excited that things are starting to return to our “new normal” we are continuing some of the same health and safety protocals. We are continuing to stagger our entrance and exit of the students (especially in our stairways) and hand washing throughout the day has become a regular routine now. We continue to be a mask friendly school and it is the choice of staff and students to wear a mask or not. We also want to thank families for keeping their child at home if they are sick. We will continue to call home and ask a family member to come pick up their child if they develop symptons during the day. If you would like to review the VSB Communicable Disease Plan – please visit the VSB website or click on the link here: VSB Communicable Disease Plan.

We are thrilled that school sports are in full swing this year, starting with Cross Country. We have a great turn-out with students as well as some parent volunteers. Please note the dates and times below for the meets:

All meets will be at Camosun Park (16^th and Camosun) starting at 3:30 with Grade 7 boys followed by Grade 7 Girls, then Kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2 and so on.

Tuesday Oct. 4 – Intermediate Grades 4-7

Thursday Oct. 6 – Primary K-3

Wednesday Oct. 12 – All Grades K-7

Thursday Oct. 20 Finals at Trout Lake Park 1pm-4pm. All grades.

 

We look forward to seeing you at our Goal Setting Conferences this week on Oct. 5th & 6th.   Reminder that it is early dismissal on these days.  Students are to be picked up at 2:00 PM.  You would have received an email from your child’s teacher to book an appointment   through Microsoft Bookings.  Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you need support with this.

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

We hope that families took the opportunity on September 30th to reflect on what you can do to acknowledge and work towards Truth and Reconciliation while honouring the lives lost to residential schools in Canada.  Below is one resource parents might find helpful:

Videos can be viewed at:

http://www.turtlelodge.org/the-seven-sacred-

laws/ and https://manitoba150.com/en/programs/the-seven-sacred-laws-animated-web-series/#top.

TERRY FOX RUN

Thank you to those parents who volunteered to help during our Terry Fox Run and a HUGE appreciate to all the families that donated to the Terry Fox Foundation. As a school we raised over $3500. Amazing Gordon spirit! Thank you!

 

INDIVIDUAL PICTURE DAY

Individual photo day is on October 11th and retakes will be taken on November 1st.  We will be using Artona again this year.  They have updated their website and have provided more options and backgrounds for parents to choice from.  All orders are done online and delivered to the school if ordered within the time frame.  More information will be communicated home shortly.

REGULAR CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Our school immunization clinic is on Friday, October 14. Families would have received a letter from our school nurse indicating if your child needs their regular childhood immunizations as well as a permission form. Please make sure that this form is returned to the school.

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)

Our school Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) welcomes all parents and guardians.  You are automatically a member of PAC when you register your child at the school.  The purpose of the PAC is to assume an advisory role and to consult with the school staff and administration on views about school policies, programs and activities.  PAC also provides volunteers and materials to support teachers and enhance the educational experience for all students.  Please visit our website for more information at gordonpac.ca or you can reach the PAC by email at gordonpac@ymail.com. Some of the projects that we are thrilled to have just been installed is our Outdoor Classroom and our Sensory Pathway. These could not have been possible without the support of our PAC!

Sign-up for the PAC Email List (click on the link) and stay informed.  Your information is kept confidential and not used beyond the PAC’s work.

The PAC meeting on Zoom is tonight – Monday, October 3 at 7:00 pm– please visit the website to register.

SAFE ARRIVAL

Hopefully everyone received a new magnet in their package for easy reference. When your child will be late or away for the day, please call the office at (604) 713-5403 and press 1 to reach the voicemail system to leave a message.  When leaving your message please speak slowly and clearly as we will be writing all the information down.  The details we require are your child’s full name, their teacher’s name and their division and how long they will be absent.

If the school has not received a message from you by 9:15 am then we will begin calling parents or guardians on the child’s emergency contact list.  Please ensure that the phone numbers you have provided us will reach a person who will answer the phone.  If this information changes at any point in the school year, please contact the office. 

As this is a voice mail system please call at any hour as soon as you are aware of the absence or lateness as the system takes calls on a 24 hour basis.

ARRIVE ON TIME, LEAVE ON TIME

Teachers will continue to pick up students outside at designated spots on the school grounds each morning and dismiss them from there.  It is very important for students to arrive at school on time and to start the day together as a class.

 

 

 

Warning Bell: 8:55 AM

Welcoming Bell: 9:00 AM

Recess: 10:30 AM – 10:50 AM

Lunch: 12:05 PM – 12:52 PM

Dismissal Bell: 3:03 PM

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF OF STUDENTS

Students are never to leave the school property without a permitted adult.  Only designated adults that are indicated on your child’s emergency contact form will be allowed to pick up your child.  If you need to pick up your child early or take them out of school, please call the office and we will arrange for you to pick up your child.

If you are late arriving at school, come to the doors by the office (north side) and ask your child to sign in at the office.

All students must be picked up at 3:03 PM.  If you are running late, please call the office and let Ms. Heidi know.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS

The traffic around Gordon is a significant concern to school staff, parents and the larger community.  Please take careful note of the no-stopping areas in and around the school.  We strongly encourage parents/guardians to drop off their children away from the school and walk a block or two to school or else leave the car at home and walk as a family.  This will allow the students to create independence by walking to school themselves and build some healthy habits.

When school is in session, a 30 km/h school zone speed limit is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every school day, unless otherwise posted.  

HERE ARE A FEW REMINDERS:

1. Plan ahead and be alert. Driving routes with less traffic in the summer may now face congestion, so give yourself extra time to get to your destination.  Take your time and don’t rush – especially through intersections.  Look for children especially near or around crosswalks and intersections.
2. The staff parking lot is for staff only, there is no dropping-off or picking-up of students.
3. Always yield to pedestrians (it’s the law).
4. Never make a U-Turn or back-up in the lane or in driveways, this is very dangerous and could lead to someone getting seriously hurt. Drive around the block instead.
5. When dropping off children in a School Zone, stop and allow them to exit onto the sidewalk side of the car. Never allow a child to cross mid-block.
6. If a vehicle is stopped in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding for a pedestrian, so be prepared to stop.
7. Always watch for pedestrians when you’re backing up. Before you get into your vehicle, make it a habit to walk around your vehicle to ensure no small children are behind it.  And remember, children will notice your driving behaviour, so set an example and drive smart.

Parents and guardians dropping-off and picking-up their children are very often seen committing a number of traffic offences.  Please be advised that the City of Vancouver parking enforcement and VPD traffic authority regularly visits the streets around Gordon Elementary to issue tickets and fines.

School Zones

POLITELY REMIND OTHERS IF THEY ARE ILLEGALLY STOPPING OR DROPPING OFF STUDENTS.

LET’S KEEP GORDON SAFE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

 

DRESS FOR THE WEATHER

I know that the weather has been unseasonably warm and sunny this Fall but Vancouver weather can change suddenly. Our teachers love the outdoors and do a lot of teaching outside in all kinds of weather. Please ensure your child has rain gear when necessary.  Recess and lunch time will also be outdoors unless the weather is very poor and poises a risk is student safety.

MEDICATION

If your child has a medical condition requiring medication that must be administered at school, a parent will need to fill out a Request for Administration of Medication at School.  We also have a form for those requiring a Medical Care Plan such as administration of an EPI PEN.  Students are never to self-administer medication at school without supervision and all medication must be stored in the office.  This includes “over the counter” medications as well as prescription medications.  Please contact Ms. Heidi in the office for these forms.

Parents are reminded that medication cannot be administrated by school staff until these forms are completed.  Staff are trained by the Community Health Nurse for the administration of medication as well as an EPI PEN in case of an emergency.

VSB DOG POLICY

We all love our four legged friends but not on school grounds, especially during pick-up and drop-off. Dogs are not allowed on the school grounds, play fields or in the school at any time between the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and during other organized school events outside of these hours, unless they are service dogs. Please take some time to review the VSB’s Dog Code, posted on the bright green signs on the fences which includes more detailed information.

Our school grounds and buildings are very active places with many children playing and moving about. Some children are afraid of dogs and/or allergic to them. School age children may put themselves at risk without thinking and get hurt by a dog. Unfortunately, dog feces have been left on our playgrounds, which is a concern for our students’ safety and hygiene when they engage in healthy outdoor play and as you can imagine it creates unpleasant odours.

Allergic reactions, unhygienic situations arising from pet feces, and the possibility of unpredictable aggression contribute to the School District’s decision to prohibit dogs in/on school properties during the school day.

Thank you for your cooperation and for making our school grounds and play fields safe for all our students.