GORDON HAPPENINGS

It has been wonderful to come back to sunny weather, clear skies and longer days. We hope that your family was able to spend some time together and enjoy the break. The last three months will go by fast so do not forget to take some time to enjoy it!

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce a new staff member to Gordon, Cindy Crowther, who is joining our wonderful SSA team. We were sad to see Aaron Houlihan go but we wish him all the best at his new schools. I would also like to introduce Rebekah Prasad as a student teacher in Ms. Harmel’s class. She will be doing her long practicum until the end of May. Welcome to Gordon and we are really happy to have both of you as part of our learning community!

Please take a moment to visit our Gordon website – We have some exciting learning happening at Gordon, one being our Salmonoids in the Classroom program.

 

GORDON’S CIRCLE OF CARE

It is hard to believe that we started the process of reimagining our school code of conduct this time last year. For those of you that were at Gordon last year, we started this process with a survey for families so we could encompass the values and expectations of our school community. We then sought input from the staff and students to create a document that we all feel really proud of. I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the teachers that put in countless hours of their own time as part of the committee. Thank you to Ms. Parr, Ms. Harmel, Ms. Hargrave, Ms. Stamp, Ms. Sinclair and Ms. Kerri.

I will be presenting the final document at our next PAC meeting which will be online through Zoom on April 17. Please visit the PAC website to register.

 

 

GARDEN BEDS

A number of classes are beginning to plan for outdoor learning opportunities. We are excited to be using our outdoor classroom more as the weather improves. Classes will also start preparing our garden beds so students can learn about plants that are native to BC as well as those that were important to our local First Nations People. Students learn where our food comes from and what we need to do to care for it. We are also able to connect this learning to our Fruit and Veggie program. We ask that everyone in our Gordon community respect the plants that are growing and not pick or destroy them. Teachers and students think of these outdoor spaces as an extension of their classrooms and therefore are asking that everyone respects them. If you see someone in our garden beds, please kindly ask them to look and not touch. We really appreciate your help and understanding!

CLASS & GROUP PHOTOS

We are excited to have Artona returning on Wednesday, April 5 to take class photos as well as sports teams, school clubs and the Grade 7 photos. Students will be getting a class photo and the other photos will be in our school yearbook that everyone will get at the end of the year.

RBC RACE FOR THE KIDS

A message from Mr. Carter:

I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break! With only three months to go until our summer break, I’m excited to announce Gordon’s participation in this year’s RBC’s Race for the Kids. RBC’s Race for the Kids is an annual fundraiser for the BC Children’s Hospital, supporting the research and cures of childhood cancers and mental health initiatives. It’s a fantastic cause that Gordon has taken part in for the past few years, raising in total over $8,000.00.

This year’s event will take place on Sunday, June 11^th,2023. The race, should you choose to join our Gordon team, is either a 2 or 5KM run or walk – up to you! Our Gordon team fundraising page is up and running, and I’m excited to announce that we’ve already grossed close to $500.00 so far. This event has been a passion of mine since I began here at Gordon in 2017, and as this is my final year at Gordon, I’d love to compete with our highest turn-out and fundraising goal ever!

You may join our team, The General Gordon Penguins, here:

https://fundraise.bcchf.ca/join/GeneralGordonPenguins

When prompted, enter our team passcode “gordon2023” to proceed to the sign-up site. When selecting which team you’ll join, you will have to scroll down to find Gordon, even if it already says our team in that section!

Many of our staff members will be joining me, and I encourage all families to sign-up, bring their families, and help Gordon take part in this noteworthy cause. The event provides music, snacks, and entertainment for the entire family. Should anyone have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by email at mcarter@vsb.bc.ca– I will answer any concerns as best I can.

HAPPY FEET SOCCER CAMP

We are excited to be offering our Gordon primary students an opportunity to participate in an after-school program through our Community Teams Coordinator. HappyFeet Soccer is excited to bring the incredibly popular, age-appropriate and non-competitive child development program to the campus of Gordon Elementary! Our after-school program provides the perfect opportunity for your soccer star to learn and practice skills in a fun, focused setting. All our classes are themed in order to further engage with our players and ensure soccer class is their favourite weekly activity.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure all children are allowed to develop and excel at their own pace whilst maximizing skill development. Less lines waiting for your turn and more high energy drills where every child has a ball at their feet. The kids will work their way through a structured curriculum building on their cognitive and motor skills, perfecting individual skills, and developing their ‘team’ play.

For all our school classes, the final portion of class will consist of a non-competitive soccer game. This will give your little ones lots of opportunity to show off their skills, score goals and celebrate their successes!

To learn more about the program, please visit their website:  www.happyfeetvancouver.ca.

Classes will run at Gordon on Mondays for the Spring term and registration details can be found below:

Schedule:

• Classes run every Monday after school

• 1 Hour classes from 3:00-4:00pm

• April 17th – June 19th

• No session April 24th & May 22nd due to school closure

• 8 sessions total

• Children come straight from school to class and can be picked up upon completion

• Open for children K-3

Cost: $128 for 8 Sessions ($16/session)

How to Register: Please click on this REGISTRATION LINK.

There are limited spots in this program. If the program fills, then you can be placed on a waitlist. Please email Kieran at kieran@happyfeetvancouver.ca.

​YWCA GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL

Kitsilano Secondary School is hosting a Grade 7 transition program in partnership with the YWCA. The program titled: Guide to High School focuses on topics students worry about or may face in a secondary school setting. The purpose is to prepare the participants for the transition and help them start off their new adventure in a positive manner. Topics discussed range from social media and being safe online to stress and time management strategies.

The Grade 7’s have already had a presentation regarding the program so this is a friendly reminder that if they are interested, to register as soon as possible as spaces are limited.

Program Dates: Wednesday at Kitsilano Secondary School – April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Time: 3:30-5:00PM

Location: Kitsilano Secondary School – 2706 Trafalgar St, Vancouver

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/GTHSregister

Questions? Contact youth@ywcavan.org

Note: You do not have to be going to Kits in grade 8 to benefit from the experience.

STREET CONSTRUCTION 

Please visit our school website by clicking HERE to learn about the upcoming watermain work the City of Vancouver will be doing in our neighbourhood from April 5 – August 24. Please note these dates are tentative and could be subject to change. I will continue to update our school website as needed. We are asking parents and caregivers to consider parking further away from the school and walking in. Seeing the weather is now getting warmer and dryer, it is a great reason to build those healthy habits and walk, bike, or roll to school.

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Our regular childhood immunization clinic will take place on Friday, April 14. If your child is required to receive their immunization, you will receive a letter from our community health nurse, Emily Ho. These were sent home with your child prior to Spring Break. You can also contact her directly at emily.ho2@vch.ca if you have any questions.

JOB OPPORTUNITES AT THE VSB

Work in B.C.’s most culturally diverse and urban school district:

Set in one of the world’s most livable cities, the Vancouver School District is a community-minded district seeking talented educators, progressive leaders, and skilled support staff to enrich the learning experience of Vancouver’s students. The VSB is now the largest school district in British Columbia to obtain an official Living Wage certification.

The VSB posts all external job postings and accepts applications through the Make A Future website. Prospective applicants will be required to create a profile with the VSB on the Make A Future website and upload relevant documents.

We are actively hiring all positions, including:

• Custodians/Building Engineers
• Office Support
• Supervision Aides
• Trades
• Specialty Teachers
• French Immersion Teachers
• Education Assistants (SSA)
• Classroom Teachers
• Teachers Teaching on Call (TTOCs)

VSB also offers an Educational Assistant Diploma Program in partnership with Burnaby Continuing Education.

Visit the VSB website for more information.

VPL SPRING ACTIVITIES

Our Vancouver Public Library has several amazing opportunities for kids to participate in. Some include reading and reviewing not yet published kids’ books, Kids Book Clubs, Reading Buddies and more. Find out all the information here: https://www.vpl.ca/kids/programs.