{"id":951,"date":"2024-10-01T10:29:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T17:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vsb.bc.ca\/gordon\/?p=951"},"modified":"2024-10-01T11:58:59","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T18:58:59","slug":"october-newsletter-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vsb.bc.ca\/gordon\/2024\/10\/01\/october-newsletter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"October Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

GORDON HAPPENINGS<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Students and Staff have settled into their new classes and are enjoying their new learning environments.\u00a0 It was great to see everyone at our\u00a0Meet the Teacher<\/em>\u00a0night. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0keeping their child at home if they are sick<\/strong>. We will continue to call home and ask a family member to come pick up their child if they develop symptoms during the day. If you would like to review the VSB Communicable Disease Plan \u2013 please visit the VSB website or click on the link here:\u00a0VSB Communicable Disease Plan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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 are running with us. Thank you to our staff coaches and parent volunteers. We also have a senior soccer team that had their first few games. Good luck in your seasons!<\/p>\n

Cross-Country Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tuesday, October 1<\/td>\nGrades K – 3<\/td>\nCamosun Park (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday, October 9<\/td>\nGrades K – 3<\/td>\nCamosun Park (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thursday, October 3<\/td>\nGrades 4 – 7<\/td>\nCamosun Park (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday, October 9<\/td>\nGrades 4 – 7<\/td>\nCamosun Park (3:30 pm \u2013 5 pm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday, October 22 \u2013 City Wide<\/td>\nGrades K \u2013 7<\/td>\nTrout Lake (1 pm \u2013 3:30 pm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

On Friday, we conducted our school\u2019s first fire drill of the year. We\u2019ll have several more throughout the year, including earthquake and lockdown drills, which are essential for reviewing and practicing our safety and preparedness procedures. This is also a great reminder to discuss and plan for emergencies at home. Do you have an escape route and a designated meeting spot in case of a fire? Is your earthquake kit and supplies ready? Our first earthquake drill is on Thursday, October 17<\/strong>, as part of the Great BC Shake Out<\/em>. There are many excellent online resources<\/a> available to help your family ensure you are well-prepared.<\/p>\n

CALL OUT FOR CHALK DONATIONS<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Our student\u2019s love creating art on the school grounds during lunch and recess. If you have left over chalk that you aren\u2019t 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!<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

GOAL SETTING CONFERENCES<\/span><\/h2>\n

We look forward to seeing you at our\u00a0Goal Setting Conferences<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Tuesday, Oct. 22 & Wednesday, Oct. 23.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 Reminder that it is early dismissal on these days.\u00a0\u00a0Students are to be picked up at 2:00 PM.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 You will be receiving an email from your child\u2019s classroom teacher to book an appointment through\u00a0Microsoft Bookings<\/em>.\u00a0 Please contact your child\u2019s classroom teacher if you need support with this.<\/p>\n

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"We hope that families take 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

In recognizing National Truth and Reconciliation week, the Indigenous Education Department and Superintendent and CEO Helen McGregor gifted our school the Reconciliation Blanket designed by\u00a0x\u02b7m\u0259\u03b8k\u02b7\u0259y\u0313\u0259m (Musqueam)\u00a0artist, educator and master weaver Debra Sparrow. This blanket serves as a reminder of the necessary continued work ahead in advancing reconciliation and your school\u2019s commitment to walk alongside as allies with Indigenous Nations and communities. This blanket will be hung in our front entranceway outside the office. Below is a video teachers will be sharing with their classes of the ceremony honouring this gift to our schools. For more information, you can also visit the VSB Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Link:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/vsbworld.sharepoint.com\/:v:\/s\/VSBWorldHub\/Edzxj_4p389KucX1wfaRotUB1GmMtC3cVeEELVd9cLCQBQ<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

TERRY FOX RUN<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"Our Terry Fox Run will be held on\u00a0Friday, October 4 at 2:00 PM<\/strong>. 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<\/strong>. Thank you to those parents who have already signed up and a HUGE appreciate to all the families that donate to the Terry Fox Foundation. Ms. Rassias will be doing a random t-shirt for every student who donates $5 either to her classroom or online for a free Terry Fox t-shirt. Please use the link below to donate on behalf of our school to the Terry Fox Foundation:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/schools.terryfox.ca\/GeneralGordonElementary<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

INDIVIDUAL PICTURE DAY<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Individual photo day is on\u00a0Wednesday, October 9<\/strong>\u00a0and retakes will be taken on\u00a0Wednesday,<\/strong> November 6<\/strong>.\u00a0 We will be using\u00a0Artona<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0again this year.\u00a0 They have updated their website and have provided more options and backgrounds for parents to choose from.\u00a0 All orders are done online and delivered to the school if ordered within the time frame.\u00a0 More information will be communicated home shortly.<\/p>\n

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"The Scholastic Book Fair empowers our students to choose books they love, and with<\/p>\n

so many options, they\u2019re sure to find themselves in the pages. Our school\u2019s Scholastic Book Fair will take place on Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 <\/strong>during our Parent\/Teacher Goal-Setting conferences. Your investment in your reader helps our whole school. All purchases earn Scholastic Dollars that can be redeemed for books and educational resources for our school\u2019s classrooms and library. The countdown to more book joy is on!<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Fair is going to be epic, but we need volunteers to make it happen. We hope that you can offer your time and talents to help students become Bolder<\/em>, Prouder, and Stronger Readers<\/em> which in turn makes them bolder, prouder, and stronger individuals. And since every purchase benefits our school, helping is twice as rewarding.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re available to lend a hand at this upcoming event, please contact Ms. Z, our Teacher Librarian at kzdriluk@vsb.bc.ca<\/a> and share which Fair activities interest you most.<\/p>\n

Opportunities to assist include:<\/em><\/p>\n