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 Thursday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 pm for a chance to hear about some of the things that happen throughout the year as well as to ask any burning questions you might have. We will meet in the library.

As cold and flu season kicks off we want to remind families of our health and safety protocols. Students continue to wash their hands throughout the day as our regular routine. 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 excited to be starting our extra-curricular sports programs with our Cross Country Teams. We are thrilled with the number of primary and intermediate students that are running with us. Below is the schedule for the mini-meets as well as the final meet at Trout Lake.

DATE	LOCATION	ADDRESS	GRADES
Tues., Oct. 3	Camosun Park	4102 W 16th Ave	Int. Grades 4-7
Thurs., Oct. 5	Camosun Park	4102 W 16th Ave	Primary Grades K-3
Wed., Oct. 11	Camosun Park	4102 W 16th Ave	All grades K-7
*Thurs., Oct. 19	Trout Lake (1-4 pm)	3360 Victoria Dr	All grades K-7

* Final Meet – all Elementary schools in Vancouver who participate in Cross Country will be there. Parents are responsible for getting their child to and from all meets.

CALL OUT FOR CHALK DONATIONS

Our student’s love creating art on the school grounds during lunch and recess. If you have left over chalk that you aren’t using anymore or would like to buy a few boxes for the school, we would really appreciate it! Please drop it off at the office. Any colour will do!

NEW GORDON LOGO

We are honoured and deeply grateful for the work that Amber Cornick, local Musqueum artist, has done to design our new Gordon Wolf logo. This work is part of our new Gordon Circle of Care that has been a two year process in the making.

The wolf, to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, symbolizes community, cooperation, and family. The elements (crescents, trigons, and circle/oval) resemble the flowing continuity of elements found on traditional tools such as a spindle whorl. The repeated trigons and crescents reflect movement. The centre of the wolf depicts the sun rising which parallels Gordon Elementary’s R.I.S.E. to success model: through Relationship and Belonging, Intellect, Spirit, and Emotional Well-being. The colours, white and black, are very traditional to Musqueam culture and are associated with spirituality. The red, orange, and yellow colours represent the sunrise but also part of Musqueam’s nature-based colour palette that is inspired by the connection to the land and waters.
Note: This design was created using traditional Coast Salish design elements incorporated with contemporary colours and my personal art style. Animal symbolism/association varies with each Nation or family’s teachings.

Artist Biography
Amber Cornick, Sent’la, is a self-taught Musqueam artist who lives, works, and creates on the Musqueam Reserve in Vancouver, with familial ties to Gitxsan and Lummi. Amber is an emerging artist, creating Coast Salish art for 2 years and has 3 years of AP (advanced placement) art experience from secondary school. She is currently studying biology at Langara College.

The full Gordon Circle of Care document can be found on the front pages of your child’s Agenda (Grades 1-7). We will also be sending home a brochure to every family.

 

We look forward to seeing you at our Goal Setting Conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 25 & Thursday, Oct. 26.   Reminder that it is early dismissal on these days.  Students are to be picked up at 2:00 PM.  You will be receiving an email from your child’s classroom teacher to book an appointment through Microsoft Bookings next Wed., Oct. 11.  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.  Huge thank you to Mr. Nylund and Ms. Sinclair for leading us in an assembly on Friday and for all the students, staff and parents for wearing orange. We will continue this work daily at Gordon as this is not just one day of remembrance but every day as we are working towards Truth and Reconciliation. 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

Our Terry Fox Run will be held on October 6 at 2:00 PM. We are still looking for volunteers to help on the day of the run. Please see the rolling board by the basketball courts before and after school to sign-up. Thank you to those parents who have already signed up and a HUGE appreciate to all the families that donated to the Terry Fox Foundation. Please use the link below to donate on behalf of our school to the Terry Fox Foundation. https://schools.terryfox.ca/GeneralGordonElementary

Thank you!

 

INDIVIDUAL PICTURE DAY

Individual photo day is on Wednesday, October 11 and retakes will be taken on November 8.  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.

 

LOST & FOUND

We will be running our Lost & Found a little differently this year so please check your children’s things frequently. We will be donating any items that are “lost” and do not have a child’s name on them to a local charitable organization more frequently so we do not have a huge pile of clothes and containers left at the end of the year. You are welcome to come into the school (you will see a large cupboard and hanging racks outside the gym by the East doors) anytime to check it. This is also a reminder to label all your child’s things, including lunch containers and waterbottles. The PAC is running a fundraiser for Mabel’s Labels or a Sharpie works as well. Please put your child’s first and last name on all items.

REGULAR CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Our school immunization clinic is on Thursday, October 12. 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.

 

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.

 

BC SCHOOL FRUIT & VEGGIE NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM

We are pleased to announce that our school has been accepted into the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program again this year.  The program is administered by the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation and supported by the Province of British Columbia and the Provincial Health Services Authority.

 

Our school is involved in a province-wide healthy living initiative. One of the goals is to encourage healthy eating by providing fresh BC fruits and vegetables to our students during class time. Our students will receive these healthy treats 12 times over the school year at no charge!

If you do not want your child to be a part of this progam. Please contact Ms. Heidi in the office and she will give you a reverse consent form to sign.

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 and a change of clothes (if they are in primary) as well as indoor shoes 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.

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 runs programs like Hot Lunch, a fundraiser that offers delivered meals for advance purchase. They host community-wide events like our Spring Fling and offer many ways for parents and caregivers to connect with the school community, while at the same time supporting our classrooms, our library, our fine arts program and much more. Please visit our website for more information at gordonpac.com or you can reach the PAC by email at PACgeneralgordon@gmail.com. 

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