GORDON HAPPENINGS
It’s incredible to think that December is already upon us! We’ve had an amazing and action-packed few months here at Gordon. The students have settled into their routines and are showing great enthusiasm and engagement in their learning. It’s been wonderful to see their progress and excitement!
The recent cold snap has certainly made it clear that winter has arrived. Please ensure your child(ren) are dressed appropriately for the chilly weather. We will only hold recess and lunch indoors if the weather conditions are exceptionally poor and pose a potential risk to student safety.
With cold and flu season upon us, we are beginning to see a higher number of absenteeism which is common during this time of year. Please continue to check daily for symptoms of respiratory illness, wash hands regularly and practice respiratory etiquette and to phone our Safe Arrival line if your child is going to be away.
Please note that school will be closed for Winter Break from Monday, December 23 reopening on Monday, January 6.
BE IN THE KNOW, WINTER IS COMING!
Follow VSB on social media to stay updated about school closures due to severe weather.
During extreme weather conditions (heavy snowfall, extreme cold, freezing rain, extreme heat, etc.) VSB schools will remain open if possible. If a District-wide closure is necessary, it will be announced by 6:30 a.m.
Stay updated:
Facebook: Vancouver School Board
Instagram: @vsb39
X: @VSB39
VSB website: vsb.bc.ca
COMMUNICATING STUDENT LEARNING
On Monday, December 16, your child will receive their first written report. Communicating Student Learning (CSL) aligns with BC’s redesigned curriculum, allowing us to report to parents in more flexible ways. The Vancouver School Board (VSB) aims to create a reporting process that is clear, responsive, and encourages greater student ownership and parent involvement.
This is an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s learning with them. These reports are designed to be strength-based, highlighting their accomplishments this term and focusing on what they “can do.” Consider asking your child what they are most proud of, what they feel they need to work on or learn next, and what steps they need to take to achieve their goals.
If you have any questions about your child’s CSL report, please feel free to reach out to their classroom teacher. Our school website has more information on CSL reporting as well as the ministry website:
K-12 Student Reporting Information for Parents and Caregivers
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/reporting/resources-for-parents-and-caregivers
Six classes are piloting SpacesEDU this year which is a portfolio-based platform that shares your child’s learning through posts. Those teachers who are part of the pilot have already communicated to families. Please make sure that you have set up your account and logged into the platform as your child’s CSL report will also be shared through this site. You will receive notification through email when it is ready. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teachers if you have any further questions.
TRAVELING OVER THE HOLIDAYS
Please contact Ms. Heidi (haleung@vsb.bc.ca) in the office before December 20 if your child will be travelling over the holidays and will be returning to school AFTER Monday, January 6. Please note that the school does not provide schoolwork for students whose family choose to extend their holidays.
WINTER CONCERT
We are excited to announce our Winter Concert, which will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 18. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. However, due to fire regulations and limited gym space, we must limit attendance to two family members per family.
We will be sending home a notice for you to indicate how many tickets you need. Thank you for your understanding and support.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Thank you to all our families that have registered their child for Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year. Please continue to make an appointment with Ms. Heidi to bring in your paperwork to finalize your child’s registration. Priority registration ends January 31, 2025. This date is important at Gordon as we have a lot of interest for Kindergarten this year and therefore if we have more K registrations than spots, the VSB will hold a lottery for space. Your child will only be considered for this lottery if they are registered with all the paperwork received at the school before this date. Please visit the VSB website by clicking HERE for more information.
District Choice Programs – Applying for a District choice program is a separate process and runs from January 7 to February 4, 2025. Visit the Kindergarten Choice Programs page for more information.
ECONOMICS FAIR
Div. 1 is holding their annual Economics Fair on Wed. Dec. 4. Students can bring a few dollars to buy handmade crafts that our grade 7’s have made. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher for more information.
Our Holiday Bazaar is on Thursday, Dec. 5. Students will need to bring money for the family members that they are buying gifts for. All gifts are $2. Primary teaches will be sending home a notice that families can fill out to let the teacher’s know who the students will be shopping for.
Our PAC is gratefully accepting new and gently used giftable items to be sold for $2 a pop at our Holiday Bazaar. Proceeds from the sale will support Covenant House, which helps at-risk and homeless youth in our community.
They’re welcoming like-new and gently used:
-Jewelry
-Fashion accessories
-Sports accessories
-Toys
-Games
-Decor
-Books
-Small electronics
-Treasures you/your kid(s) no longer need
-Gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon and tape
*Please no clothes or stuffed animals
Kindly drop donations in the bins beside the Multipurpose Room by December 4th.
Please email PACgeneralgordon@ymail.com if you have any questions.
Want to volunteer? Please use the link below to sign up – we really appreciate your help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45ADAC2CA0F4C34-53571666-holiday
HOLIDAY HAMPERS
We will be accepting donations for Holiday Hampers to support some families who are in need. More information will be sent home from your child’s classroom teacher. Any donation, big or small, will be very much appreciated.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Student Council would like to announce a few activities that they will be doing in December.
- Donations for Covenant House – Please click on the donation link below if you would like to make a donation to Covenant House from December 4 – 22 in support of youth in our community. For the month of December, all donations will be triple matched to make three times the impact on youth. Please click HERE to make a donation.
- Spirit Days – Tuesday, December 10 – Dress as your Favourite Holiday which means to decorate an item of clothing (shirt, hat, etc.) or dress in your favourite holiday theme and Friday, December 20 will be Pyjama Day. Staff and students are encouraged to wear their cozy PJs or comfy clothing to school in support of our Covenant House fundraiser.
Our Student Council greatly appreciates your support!
LOST & FOUND
Please continue to check our Lost &Found for your child’s items and label all their clothing, water bottles and containers. Our Lost & Found is located outside the gym by the East stairs. Please come into the school and have a look if you think your child has misplaced anything.
PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC)
Make sure that you take a moment to visit the PAC website at gordonpac.com and sign-up for their email list. There are a number of amazing fundraisers, activities and volunteer opportunities that you will not want to miss out on including their Candle fundraiser that that was such a big seller that it sold-out last year. The PAC has once again partnered with Squamish-based small business Light & Stone to create a candle collection inspired by signature Gordon field trip destinations: Connaught and Tatlow Parks. For a very limited time—and in a very limited edition—the Connaught and Tatlow candle collection will help fund equipment, experiences, and enrichment opportunities for our school.
They make great gifts. And every order is also a gift to our school: a portion of every sale supports our PAC.
https://lightandstone.ca/collections/gordon-elementary-pac-fundraiser